HERRERA, KEZIAH M.

STEM 12-A

All about Blood

Transfusion
Blood transfusions are a routine medical procedure that delivers blood into a
patient’s body through a narrow tube that’s connected to a vein in their arm or
hand.

To administer a blood transfusion, healthcare professionals place a thin needle

into a vein—usually located in the arm or hand—which allows blood to move from a
bag, through a rubber tube, and into the patient’s vein through the needle.
Nurses must closely monitor their patient’s vital signs throughout this procedure.
Blood transfusions are often administered in a hospital, outpatient clinic, or
doctor’s office. A nurse or doctor will also check the patient’s blood pressure,
pulse, and temperature before starting the procedure.

Steps in Initiating Blood Transfusion:

Verify Blood Product
Two RNs at the patient’s bedside must verify the below:
Physician’s order with patient identification compared to
the blood bank’s documentation
Patient’s name, date of birth, and medical record number
Patient’s blood type versus the donor’s blood type and Rh-
factor compatibility
Blood expiration date

Educate the patient

Relay the signs and symptoms of a transfusion reaction. If
these occur, the patient should notify their RN during the
transfusion
Rash, itching, elevated temperature,
chest/back/headache, chills, sweats, increased heart rate,
increased respiratory rate, decreased urine output, blood
in urine, nausea, or vomiting

Assess and document

the patient’s status
Baseline vital signs (HR, RR, Temp, SPO2, BP), lung sounds,
urine output, and color

Start the blood

transfusion
Prepare the Y tubing with normal saline and have the blood
ready in an infusion pump
Run the blood slowly for the first 15 minutes (2mL/min or
120cc/hr)
Remain with the patient for the first 15 minutes; this is when
most transfusion reactions can occur
Increase the rate of transfusion after this period if your patient
is stable and doesn’t display signs of a transfusion reaction
Document vital signs after 15 minutes, then hourly, and finally,
at the completion of the transfusion