Station - Instructions for candidate
You are a junior doctor on the general medicine ward.
Liezel Dela Cruz is a 52-year-old woman admitted three days ago with bleeding in her stomach that was treated with an endoscopy. She is pale and tired. Her blood count is low at 68 g/L. The medical team has recommended a blood transfusion and she has asked to speak with you about it.
| Current haemoglobin | 68 g/L (reference range 120-160 g/L) |
|---|---|
| Clinical status | Symptomatic: fatigue and breathlessness on minimal exertion; haemodynamically stable |
Your tasks are to:
- Obtain informed consent for red cell transfusion. Discuss the indication, what the procedure involves, the benefits, the risks, alternatives, and address her questions and concerns.
- You do not need to take a detailed history or perform an examination.
- You do not need to write in the patient's notes or prescribe.
This is a 10-minute station, with 2 minutes of reading time.