ADMINISTERING A BLOOD

TRANSFUSION

Presented by Jennifer Rodgers


ADMINISTERING A BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Identify need for transfusion
Keep patient informed
Proper Equipment
Maintain Safety
Assessment
Recognizing a Reaction

IDENTIFY NEED FOR TRANSFUSION

Low Hemoglobin
and
Low Hematocrit
Acute or Chronic
Bleed
Impaired
Production of
Red Blood Cells
(RBCs)
Hemolytic
Anemia
Nutritional
Anemia
KEEP PATIENT INFORMED

Obtain an informed consent
Educate patient and family on transfusion process
EQUIPMENT

Proper tubing and/or infusion pumps
Normal saline
Patent IV
Blood warmer (if ordered)
Vital sign equipment (sphygmomanometer,
stethoscope, thermometer)
Proper container for disposal

SAFETY

Two nurses at the bedside
Verify patients name and medical record number
on ID band to blood order and against unit of blood
Verify donor number of blood unit, blood type, and
expiration date

ASSESSMENT

Blood pressure, temperature, heart rate,
respirations, lung sounds
Careful observation of patient within first 15 to 20
minutes
Transfusion cannot exceed 4 hours

RECOGNIZING A REACTION

Cough, facial flushing, hypo/hyperthermia, rash,
hypo/hypertension, chest pain, back pain,
shortness of breath

RECOGNIZING A REACTION

Stop transfusion
Assess patient
Obtain vital signs, run normal saline on new tubing
Call MD
Save unit of blood for analysis

REFERENCES