BT Checklist

1 What should you check before blood transfusion?

The vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate) are checked before,

during, and after the transfusion. A nurse watches for any signs of an allergic or other
type of reaction, including rash, fever, headache, or swelling.

2 What is the protocol for blood transfusion?

A blood transfusion protocol is a defined outline of care that a patient will receive during
blood administration. It establishes critical precautions that should be followed before
and during a blood transfusion. The protocol begins with the RN confirming the order
and consent.

3 What documents do you need after a blood transfusion?

Verify appropriate venous access and teach the patient about signs and symptoms of
a transfusion reaction, and when to call for help. On
the transfusion record, document these points: date and time the transfusion was
started and completed. name of the health care professionals who verified the
information with you.

4 What are the steps of blood transfusion?

During the Procedure

The blood transfusion procedure begins when an intravenous (IV) line is placed onto

the patient's body. It is through the IV that the patient will begin to receive the
new blood. Depending on the amount of blood, a simple blood transfusion can take
between 1-4 hours.

5 What are the side effects of a blood transfusion?

Potential symptoms of a transfusion reaction

 back pain.
 dark urine.
 chills.
 fainting or dizziness.
 fever.
 flank pain.
 skin flushing.
 shortness of breath.
6 How often are vital signs during blood transfusion?

Current policy on a large SCT unit is to take routine vital signs every four

hours. During blood transfusions, vital signs are taken at baseline, 10-15 minutes
after initiation, hourly, and 30 minutes after blood administration is complete.

7 Why must blood be transfused 4 hours?

All blood products taken from the blood bank must be hung within 30 minutes and

administered (infused) within 4 hours due to the risk of bacterial proliferation in
the blood component at room temperature.

8 How long should a patient be monitored after a blood transfusion?

With respect to monitoring of patents receiving blood transfusion, practice was

evaluated against the BCSH standards: 'The patients' vital
signs should be monitored before administering a unit of blood, 15 minutes after start
of transfusion and on completion of transfusion' (BCSH et al 1999).

9 Why do we use normal saline with blood transfusion?

Saline solution: A bag of saline. Saline can be used to increase blood volume when

a blood transfusion is not possible. ... Saline solution is administered intravenously (IV
drips) and increases both intravascular and interstitial volume. They decrease osmotic
pressure by diluting the blood.

10 How long should a nurse stay with a patient during a blood transfusion?

Start the blood transfusion SLOWLY on an infusion pump: 2 mL/min (same as 120
mL/hr) for the first 15 minutes and STAY at the patient's bedside for the first 15
minutes. If the blood is tolerated after 15 minutes, rate can be increased.

11 What are the signs and symptoms of a transfusion reaction?

The most common signs and symptoms include fever, chills, urticaria (hives),

and itching. Some symptoms resolve with little or no treatment. However, respiratory
distress, high fever, hypotension (low blood pressure), and red urine (hemoglobinuria)
can indicate a more serious reaction.

12 How long do blood transfusions take?

 Blood transfusions are usually done in a hospital, an outpatient clinic or a doctor's office.
The procedure typically takes one to four hours, depending on which parts of the
blood you receive and how much blood you need.

13 How long do you stay in the hospital after a blood transfusion?

Four to 6 days is the average amount of time in the hospital for patients with conditions
that require transfusion.

14 What are the main therapeutic goals of blood transfusion?

Goals of Blood Transfusion Therapy

The major goals are: Use of donor erythrocytes with an optimal recovery and half-life in
the recipient. Achievement of appropriate haemoglobin level. Avoidance of adverse
reactions, including transmission of infectious agents.

15 Can I go home after a blood transfusion?

Do not drive yourself. Make sure you know what to do before you leave the Outpatient
Department. with you. Tell the health care provider that you think you may be having a
reaction to a blood transfusion.

16 Can the body reject a blood transfusion?

Transplanted organs contain some immune cells from the donor that can stimulate the
recipient, whereas most immune cells that might be in a transfusion are filtered out
before administration. Blood transfusions may be rejected by the recipient, resulting
in a transfusion reaction, but such cases are relatively rare.

17 What should you eat after a blood transfusion?

Some combinations can include:

 iron fortified cereal with orange juice.
 whole grain toast and strawberries.
 egg salad and fruit.
 beef with beans.

18 What is the maximum time for a blood transfusion?

Guidelines say that a blood transfusion should generally take a couple of hours, with
a maximum of four hours. This is to prevent the blood from becoming damaged and
unsafe. If you need blood in an emergency, though, you may receive the blood much
more quickly than normal.

19 How long does it take to transfuse 1 unit of blood?

One transfusion of red blood cells usually takes 2 to 4 hours. One transfusion of
platelets takes 30 to 60 minutes.

20 How long is a unit of blood good for?

When test results are received, units suitable for transfusion are labeled and stored.
Red cells are stored in refrigerators at 6ºC for up to 42 days. Platelets are stored at
room temperature in agitators for up to five days. Plasma and cryo are frozen and
stored in freezers for up to one year.

21 What can I expect after a blood transfusion?

After a blood transfusion, your vital signs are checked (such as your
temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate). The intravenous (IV) line is taken out.
You may have some bruising or soreness for a few days at the site where the IV was
inserted.

22 What are best practices for administering a blood transfusion?

There are common best practices that should be implemented. Unless in an

emergency, a blood transfusion consent and blood typing and cross-matching is
needed prior to blood administration. Checking blood products against the order and
using two patient identifiers is critical.

23 What is the starting rate of blood transfusion?

Initiate infusion of blood components slowly at a rate of 50 mL/hr (if appropriate) but no

greater than 2 mL/min (120 mL/hr) for the first 15 minutes (neonate and
pediatric rates are weight based mL/kg/hr so may not reach this rate).

24 Why is blood transfused through a filter?

Blood Infusion. Blood components must be filtered during transfusion to remove clots

and small clumps of platelets and white blood cells that form during collection and
storage. ... Y-type sets can be primed with blood or Normal Saline. Usually, a new set
is used for each component transfused.

25 Do platelets need a filter?

Platelets should be filtered only by large-pore filters (>150 µm) or leukocyte-
reduction filters (if indicated); micropore filters may absorb large numbers
of platelets and therefore diminish the effectiveness of a platelet transfusion.

26 What equipment is used for a blood transfusion?

All equipment used to administer blood components including plasma thawing

devices, intravenous fluid pumps and blood warmers should be operated according to
the manufacturer's instructions and be designated safe and appropriate for blood
transfusion.

27 What is the most common transfusion reaction?

Febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions are the most common reaction reported

after a transfusion. FNHTR is characterized by fever or chills in the absence of
hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells) occurring in the patient during or up to 4 hours
after a transfusion.