Blood Transfusion Procedure Nursing | Reaction Types, Complications (Hemolytic/Febrile) NCLEX
RegisteredNurseRN・23 minutes read
Blood transfusions replace low red blood cells in patients due to various reasons like surgery, trauma, anemia, or cancer, ensuring the crucial function of carrying oxygen and removing carbon dioxide in the body. Nurses must follow strict protocols to prevent reactions, monitoring patients carefully during transfusions, and recognizing signs like rash, elevated temperature, aches, chills, tachycardia, increased respirations, oliguria, and nausea to act promptly in case of hemolytic, allergic, or febrile reactions.
Insights
- Blood transfusion is essential for patients experiencing blood loss, anemia, or other conditions affecting red blood cell levels, with guidelines recommending transfusion when hemoglobin falls to critical levels.
- Nurses must diligently adhere to transfusion protocols, ensuring patient identification, blood compatibility, and monitoring for potential reactions like hemolytic, allergic, or febrile responses, which can have severe consequences if not promptly recognized and managed.
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Recent questions
What is the purpose of a blood transfusion?
To replace low red blood cells in patients.
What are the symptoms of low red blood cells?
Paleness, fatigue, shortness of breath, increased heart rate.
What are the risks of transfusion reactions?
Hemolytic reactions, allergic reactions, febrile reactions, GVHD.
How should nurses prevent transfusion reactions?
Follow hospital protocols, verify patient identification, monitor vital signs.
What should be done in case of a transfusion reaction?
Stop transfusion, replace tubing with saline, monitor vital signs, notify doctor.
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Summary
00:00
"Essentials of Blood Transfusion in Healthcare"
- Blood transfusion involves replacing a patient's low red blood cells with donated red blood cells via venous access.
- Reasons for needing a blood transfusion include blood loss from surgery or trauma, anemia, renal failure, or cancer.
- Red blood cells are crucial for carrying oxygen and removing carbon dioxide in the body.
- Symptoms of low red blood cells include paleness, fatigue, shortness of breath, increased heart rate.
- Transfusion guidelines recommend transfusing blood when hemoglobin levels fall to 7-8 grams per deciliter.
- Normal hemoglobin levels are 14-18 grams per deciliter for males and 12-16 grams per deciliter for females.
- Nurses must follow hospital protocols for blood transfusions to prevent reactions.
- Before transfusing blood, verify patient identification, blood type compatibility, expiration date, and absence of clots or abnormalities in the blood.
- Start the transfusion within 20-30 minutes of receiving the blood and complete it within 2-4 hours to prevent bacterial growth.
- Monitor the patient's vital signs, start the transfusion slowly, and watch for signs of transfusion reactions throughout the process.
15:20
Understanding and Managing Transfusion Reactions in Patients
- Transfusion reactions encompass various patient responses to donor blood, including hemolytic reactions where incompatible blood leads to immune system attacks on red blood cells, posing severe risks like death.
- Allergic reactions can occur, along with febrile reactions or GVHD, which is rare but fatal if it arises days to weeks post-transfusion.
- Patients at risk for circulatory overload include those with heart or renal issues, necessitating careful monitoring during transfusions.
- To recognize transfusion reactions, remember the acronym REACTION: rash, elevated temperature, aches, chills, tachycardia, increased respirations, oliguria, nausea.
- Hemolytic reactions involve the immune system targeting donor red blood cells, potentially causing DIC, renal failure, and severe symptoms like fever, chest pain, and hemoglobinuria.
- Allergic reactions stem from recipient immune responses to donor blood proteins, leading to symptoms like rashes, hives, and anaphylaxis.
- Febrile reactions result from recipient white blood cells reacting with donor cells, often seen in patients with prior transfusions, causing increased temperature and common symptoms like chills and headache.
- In case of a transfusion reaction, promptly stop the transfusion, replace tubing with saline, monitor vital signs every 5 minutes, notify the doctor and blood bank, and administer medications like corticosteroids or antihistamines based on the reaction type.
