Nurses Role for Blood Transfusion

After initiating blood administration what should you watch for?

**Transfusion reaction** 1.Headache 2.Chills 3.Flushing 4.Rash 5.Chest 6.Back pain 7.Nausea 8. Fever 9. Tachycardia 10. Respiratory Distress 11. Hypotension

Other considerations with Blood transfusions

*Ethical and Religious *Never mix blood with any other medications or solutions other than NS *Tubing use expires in 4 hours.

Nurse's role

1. Check MD order 2. Verify Blood is ready in blood bank (lab) 3. Make sure IV site present and patent 4. Ask pt about allergies and previous reactions to blood products 5. Follow institution guidelines (consent forms) 6. Obtain baseline vital signs 7. Administer premeds if ordered 8. Assemble equipment, prime tubing

Items to be compared prior to Blood admin.

1. Client name 2. ID number 3. Blood type 4. Donor number on blood container 5. Expiration date

Steps to hang and begin admin of Blood product

1. Don gloves 2. Prepare tubing with NS 3. Spike blood bag to tubing 4. Run blood slowly per institution protocol for first 10-15min 5.If no adverse reaction occurs in first 15 min. Continue at infused rate 125-175ml/hr or Other Order by MD 5. Recheck Vitals at 10min, 30min and at stop time.

Steps after transfusion is complete

1. Flush IV with NS 2. Dispose Empty bag per policy in contamination container 3. Document on appropriate form, place appropriate transfusion records in pt chart.

Steps after you obtain blood from bank

1. Inspect blood product for s/s of leakage, clots, bubbles, purplish color 2. Two licensed nurses must compare blood with cross match slip and with ID band

Blood should be administered within what time frame after being obtained from lab?

30 min after release from lab.