Improving Compliance with a Nurse-Driven Protocol for Unfractionated Heparin Infusions in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism.

Background: Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a high-risk medication that can cause bleeding and/or thrombotic complications if not managed appropriately. Between January and July 2019, our institution experienced a high number of patient safety events related to UFH infusion for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement (QI) initiative was to prevent these safety events by improving compliance with our institution's nurse-driven VTE UFH infusion protocol.

Evaluating the frequency of vital sign monitoring during blood transfusion: an evidence-based practice initiative.

Patients with cancer are often dependent on blood transfusions during treatment. Frequent vital sign monitoring during transfusions may interrupt sleep and the patient's ability to ambulate or participate in unit activities. Relying heavily on vital sign findings may also overshadow unmeasurable symptoms of transfusion reaction.