Do you donate blood?

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Hi, I am a rising 4th year nursing student doing a project for a statistics class and am designing an experiment to see if there is a correlation between being a nurse/nursing student and donating blood. I would really appreciate any responses to the poll! Also, feel free to leave comments, especially if you are ineligible to donate, I would be interested to know why. Thanks!

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Not sure how correct my information is, but in my A&P class while we were talking about blood the instructor told us that many times, not all, but many times plasma is used in cosmetics and other non-medical uses and thats the reason you are payed for it. The companies pay for it, but like I said I'm not sure how true that actually is.

That's the first time I've heard anything about that, and I Googled around a bit before deciding to become a donor. There are also medicines that could not be made without plasma. The Rogam (sp?) shot many women need is one of them. They need donors with negative blood to make that.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.

I do, usually around twice per year and have been for quite a while. Lately I have been doing the apheresis which takes longer than a standard pint. I feel it is one of the small things I can do for others.

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I started donating blood in 1979. Every child of mine has donated. Both of my son's donate plasma regularly....

We are 4 O- folks and 2 O+ folks, so very much in demand! Once or twice I have been denied for low iron, but that is about it.

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Specializes in OR-ortho, neuro, trauma.

I am ineligible because, like another poster, I get tattoos about once a year.

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I've only actually donated once. I usually either miss the donor wagon or my iron is too low. Like others, I'm O+, so I wish I could more often.

ETA- Forgot to add, choosing nursing as my career had no bearing on my choice to donate.

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I do not, but I am a plasma donor, which I understand is used a lot in NICUs and burn centers. Not many people can receive my blood type (A-) so my plasma is more useful, and I am paid $55/week to donate. I would donate blood, too, if I could, but you can't do both.

That's really interesting! I'm A-, too, but I'm a "lifesaver" because my area is in need of my blood type. (Lifesaver = Special Donor Programs )

It's a shame they have such a hard time actually getting blood out. :crying2:

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I donate platelets about every 4 weeks with the Red Cross.

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Specializes in ICU.

I've donated blood a few times in my life. I've also done the plasma thing as well when I needed the cash, and as others have said, you can't do both. Hopefully I'm at a point in my life where I don't need to go to the plasma center so I can have gas money for the week, so my blood donations should increase in the near future :)

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I have donated 2 - 3 times a year for the past 20 years. I am O neg so yes I do feel a little bit of a pull

to donate for altruistic reasons....but I will be honest, at heart I am a mercenary.

I time my donations to coincide with major blood drives by radio stations or big events.

I am a blood donor t-shirt junkie. I have tons of t-shirts, have gone to several concerts for free, get movie tickets, cd's, posters, etc. With the new Twilight movie coming out (which I have no desire to see) my wife found out they are giving free tix for donations of blood and is pushing me to go.

Aside from the "swag" I get for donating I still enjoy knowing I helped out.

I Have donated plasma once...and ever since I only donate whole blood ...was a nasty clinic in the inner city that was a perfect sterotype of of the kind of clinic that only winos and junkies would go to sell blood for cash to buy their next fix or bottle. Also the techs skills were abit suspect. Finally I did not enjoy the feeling of the "blood" being pumped back into me.

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm ineligible b/c I receive acupuncture treatments. That disqualifies you for 12 months after your last treatment.

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I give as soon as I am eligible and have for about 3 years. Nothing related to nursing school. I got tattoos a year ago but our state is completely legit so I was able to keep giving. DH and I both do this.

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I can't donate because my veins are too small to get a good stick. When I was in the hospital for a surgery, they had to do a PICC line because my veins kept collapsing within an hour of the IV being placed! I've always tried to donate, though... Once I went through 15 needle sticks before the nurses all gave up and told me, thanks, but no thanks.

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