Question

The nurse is told by a primary health care provider that a client in hypovolemic shock will require plasma expansion. The nurse should prepare which supplies for transfusion?

a. PRBCs (Packed Red Blood Cells)
b. FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma)
c. Platelets
d. Cryoprecipitate

Answer 1

For patients with hypovolemic shock requiring plasma expansion, the nurse should prepare FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma) for transfusion as it provides necessary coagulation factors and volume replacement.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a client is in hypovolemic shock and requires plasma expansion, the nurse should prepare for the transfusion of FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma). FFP contains the liquid component of blood called plasma, which consists of water, electrolytes, and proteins, including coagulation factors and antibodies. It is useful when treating patients with a deficiency of multiple coagulation factors and when volume expansion and replacement are needed, as seen in the case of hypovolemic shock. This is in contrast to other blood components such as PRBCs (Packed Red Blood Cells), which are used mainly for carrying oxygen and improving anemia, platelets, which are used for clotting, and cryoprecipitate, which is rich in specific clotting factors.