Question

A nurse is preparing to initiate a blood transfusion on a client with anemia. Which step will the nurse perform to prevent a transfusion error?

Check the client's wristband against the blood component

Verify the blood component independently against the provider's prescription

Match the blood component to the client's consent form

Place a blood component identification label in the client's medical record

Answer 1

To prevent a transfusion error, a nurse must verify the blood component against the provider's prescription, perform a cross-match assay, and ensure the details on the blood unit match the patient's wristband and the provider's records.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent a transfusion error when initiating a blood transfusion for a client with anemia, a nurse must perform several critical steps to ensure patient safety. One of the most important steps is to verify the blood component independently against the provider's prescription. This involves checking the patient's wristband to ensure it matches the details on the blood unit, including blood type and unique identification numbers. Additionally, cross-matching the donor's blood with the recipient's serum to test for compatibility is essential to avoid hemagglutination and transfusion reactions.

A cross-match assay is carried out prior to the release of blood for transfusion. This test involves mixing a small aliquot of the donor red blood cells with the patient's serum to see if there's any reaction indicating the presence of antibodies. If there is no hemagglutination, or after confirming negative results with Coombs' reagent, the transfusion can proceed.