Question

A recently hired nurse who is in orientation is assigned to the medical unit. The charge nurse observes the new nurse prepare to administer a unit of packed red blood cells as seen in the picture. Which action should the charge nurse take?

a. Verify that a 22-gauge intravenous catheter is used for the transfusion
b. Assist the nurse in changing the intravenous tubing attached to the blood
c. Tell the nurse to take the clients vital signs and then start the transfusion
d. Assume responsibility for the care of the client during the blood transfusion

Answer 1

The charge nurse should assist the nurse in changing the intravenous tubing attached to the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

The charge nurse should assist the nurse in changing the intravenous tubing attached to the blood.

When administering a blood transfusion, it is important to use dedicated blood administration sets to avoid any complications or reactions. The picture shows that the nurse is using a tubing set that is already connected to a bag of fluids, which could result in the introduction of air or other substances that can cause harm to the patient. Therefore, the charge nurse should assist the nurse in changing the tubing to a dedicated blood administration set to ensure safe transfusion.