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Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN) 2025 Transfusion Medicine Boot Camp for Nurses

Written by:

Laura Aseltine MLT, BSc., Regional Project Coordinator, Southwest; 
Donna Berta RN, BScN, Clinical Project Coordinator – Nursing;
Sheena Scheuermann MLT, BTech., Regional Project Coordinator, Southwest;
Alison Wendt MLT, Regional Project Coordinator, Central.

Background
ORBCoN’s Transfusion Medicine Boot Camp for Nurses is an annual educational event (originating in 2018). The goal is to enhance transfusion patient safety by providing evidence informed transfusion knowledge and skills to health care professionals who administer blood (primarily nurses). In addition, the perspective of medical laboratory technologists, whose role is integral to the transfusion medicine circle of care, is embraced.
The program’s organizing committee includes a transfusion medicine physician, clinical nurse educators, a patient blood management coordinator, and ORBCoN staff. Program format and content are guided by attendee feedback.

2025 Program
A four-hour virtual educational session was presented on November 26, 2025. Registration to attend was required (for security purposes) however there was no cost to attendees. The 2025 format was modified to include four consecutive sessions; based on attendee feedback and limitations of the available technology, the concurrent session format from previous years was abandoned. The 2025 contemporary transfusion medicine topics included:

  • Transfusion Considerations – Patients with Liver Disease
  • Transfusion Considerations for Obstetrical Patients
  • Tips for Transfusing Tots 
  • 2025 Using Blood Wisely Guidelines: Are You Transfusing Wisely?

For each topic, the recording, presentation (PDF format), and as applicable, speaker responses to additional questions are posted on the ORBCoN website.
Visit https://transfusionontario.org/category/orbcon-resources/presentation-library/transfusion-medicine-boot-camp-for-nurses/ to access these resources.

2025 Registrants
Those registering for the event totaled 363 individuals; most registrants were Ontarians. Approximately 6.6% of registrants were from outside Ontario, including two international registrants.

The role of the registrants is summarized in Figure 1, details include:

  • 51% (N 186) front line nursing care provider (clinical nurse specialist, registered nurse, registered practical nurse)
  • 27% (N 96) providing transfusion education (clinical nurse educator, nursing professional practice, transfusion safety nurse/officer)
  • 14% (N 51) medical laboratory technologist
  • 8% (N 30) other (faculty university/college, nurse manager, student nurse, other)

Figure 1: 2025 Registrants Role (%)

2025 Outcomes
An evaluation survey provided attendees the opportunity to submit feedback and was completed by 82% of attendees (150 completed surveys, 182 attendees). Common responses the attendees identified:

  • Overall appraisal: 77% excellent, 23% good.
  • After attending this event, my practice will change: 83% yes.
  • The varied topics were well liked and described as “informative” and delivering “practical knowledge for nurses.”
  • The 2025 event four-hour duration: 81% adequate, 13% too long, 6% too short
  • Program organization with 50 minutes per speaker and a 10-minute break scheduled between speakers was positive; attendees reported selecting the specific topic(s) most pertinent to their individual clinical practice focus.
  • Attendees remarked that the content of some presentations did not align within the allocated time period leading to minimal/no question and answer discussion (subsequently the speakers were asked to address attendee questions in written format, with replies posted on the ORBCoN website). Attendees clearly requested question and answer discussion opportunities for future events.
  • Most attendees found the interactive polling questions engaging, though some voiced concern, “too many polling questions.”  
  • A polling question technology malfunction arose for many attendees; moving forward ORBCoN is investigating to rectify this issue.
  • Patient case scenarios were favorably received with requests for “nursing patient cases.”
  • Suggested future topics: Artificial Intelligence in Transfusion; Patient Case Demonstrating Transfusion Protocols; Leukemia and Transfusion; Antibodies and Crossmatch Process; Operating Room Transfusion Protocols; Dialysis Patients and Transfusion.

Planning for the 2026 Event
Stemming from the 2025 event, as well as past years feedback, education to support transfusion patient safety is welcomed. Attendee observations and suggestions are valued; planning suitable responses are a priority.  As possible, the future topics put forward will be incorporated.
Your ongoing suggestions to augment this event are encouraged, please reach out.