Introduction: From the beginning of humanity, blood has fascinated people. The earliest civilizations were aware of its importance and its crucial role in sustaining life. However, it took millennia to achieve the first successes in blood transfusion between humans. Achieving these results required a substantial understanding of the human body, particularly blood groups. Life-threatening reactions, due to blood incompatibility, most often occur within the first 15 minutes of a transfusion. Among the most dangerous are acute hemolytic reactions. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis, is to use literature to explore the role of nurses in blood transfusion and to outline their responsibilities when acute hemolytic reactions occur. Methods: A descriptive method was used, reviewing Slovenian and international professional and scientific literature. The literature collection took place from September 2023 to February 2024. Relevant literature was identified using the following keywords: transfusion, blood, nurses, hemolytic reactions. These terms were combined with the Boolean operator AND. Sources were searched in various bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL Ultimate, and DiKUL. A total of 128,672 results were identified. Results: The results show, that acute hemolytic reactions are a complex phenomenon associated with the administration of blood products containing erythrocytes. Adhering to professional nursing standards reduces the likelihood of errors and enables the quick detection of adverse effects. Nurses play a crucial role and carry significant responsibility in this process. Some studies indicate that nurses' knowledge of blood product transfusion is insufficient. Nurses require more education in blood product transfusion because the knowledge gained during their studies is limited, and if they do not frequently perform transfusions, it is quickly forgotten. Discussion and conclusion: Nurses are a key factor in the success of transfusion therapy. They must possess extensive knowledge and master numerous skills to carry out transfusion procedures effectively. Nurses who infrequently administer transfusions lack the same level of knowledge as those who perform it daily. It is suggested that additional professional education and training in blood component transfusion be provided for nurses to ensure enhanced safety and the safe execution of all procedures for the benefit of patients.
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