Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a transfusion of packed RBCs. The nurse notes that the client's blood type is AB positive and the blood infusing is labeled type B negative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

1) Stop the blood transfusion immediately
2) Prepare to administer antipyretics
3) Monitor the client for any adverse reactions
4) Transfuse the blood over 6 hr

Answer 1

The nurse should stop the blood transfusion immediately and monitor the client for any adverse reactions, as mismatched blood transfusions can lead to life-threatening complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse observes that a client with AB positive blood is receiving a transfusion of B negative blood, the recommended action is to stop the blood transfusion immediately. AB positive individuals can receive any ABO blood type in a transfusion (A, B, AB, or O), but given that blood type infusion should always match, this could be an error unless it's been specifically considered safe by a physician or in emergency situations. The mismatch could potentially cause a hemolytic transfusion reaction, which is life-threatening. Monitor the client for any adverse reactions after stopping the infusion is also essential, as signs of a reaction may still occur even if the transfusion is halted promptly. It's important to ensure pretransfusion blood testing is accurate in order to prevent potentially fatal reactions.