The National Hemophilia Foundation’s (NHF) Nursing Working Group has been revising and expanding the Nurses’ Guide to Bleeding Disorders (NGBD). First published in 1995, the guide provides comprehensive information and practical ideas to assist nurses at all levels in caring for patients with bleeding disorders.
Over the last several years, the NGBD has further evolved into a readily accessible online resource, serving as an introduction to nurses new to the field and as an information source for more experienced nurses. New chapters, which continue to be added in downloadable PDF format, cover a wide range of topics such as hepatitis, orthopedics, pain, rare bleeding disorders and women with bleeding disorders.
“Emergency Room Care” is co-authored by Leticia Riley, RN, BSN; Mack Womack, RN, BSN; and Susan Zappa, RN, CPN. The original version of the chapter was written by Nancy Roy, RN, MSN, ARNP, FNP. This chapter serves as an excellent resource for any nurse managing a serious emergency in which a patient with a bleeding disorder experiences a life- or limb-threatening bleed and associated complications.
The authors, all nurses with extensive clinical hematology experience, explain the fundamental approach to evaluating and caring for a patient with a bleeding disorder during an emergency. A large portion of the chapter is dedicated to detailed explanations of the most dangerous type of bleeds, such as eye, throat, intracranial, spinal cord and abdominal hemorrhaging, plus specific guidelines to ensure optimal assessment, intervention and treatment. The authors also stress the importance of psychosocial support, education for patients and their families, and emergency room collaboration with a hemophilia treatment center (HTC).
