Question

During a blood transfusion with packed red blood cells (RBCs), a patient begins to complain of chills, low back pain, and nausea. What priority action should the nurse take?

a) Discontinue the infusion immediately and maintain the IV line with normal saline solution using new IV tubing
b) Observe for additional symptoms and notify the physician
c) Slow the infusion rate and continue to monitor the patient every 15 minutes
d) Discontinue the infusion immediately and notify the physician

Answer 1

Discontinue the blood transfusion immediately and notify the physician.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described by the patient during the blood transfusion indicate a possible transfusion reaction. The priority action that the nurse should take in this situation is to discontinue the infusion immediately and notify the physician. Transfusion reactions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.