Which action will the nurse take during administration of blood products to ensure the clients safety?

Essentials

• Avoid unnecessary and inappropriate transfusions.
• Preventable ‘wrong blood into patient’ incidents are nearly always caused by human error and may cause fatal reactions due to ABO incompatibility.
• Most mistransfusion incidents are caused by identification errors at the time of pre-transfusion blood sampling, sample handling in the laboratory, collecting the wrong component from the blood bank or transfusion to the patient.
• The identity check between patient and blood component is the crucial final opportunity to avoid potentially fatal mistransfusion.
• At every stage of the blood administration process the key elements are positive patient identification, excellent communication and good documentation. These can be enhanced by the use of electronic transfusion management systems and barcode technology.
• Hospitals should develop local transfusion policies based on national guidelines and ensure all staff involved in the clinical transfusion process are appropriately trained and competency assessed.
• Where possible, patients should give ‘valid consent’ for transfusion based on appropriate information and discussion, but signed consent is not a legal requirement.
• Non-essential ‘out of hours’ requests for transfusion and overnight administration of blood should be avoided wherever possible because of an increased risk of errors.

Positive patient identification

Positive patient identification at all stages of the transfusion process is essential. Minimum patient identifiers are:

• Last name, first name, date of birth, unique identification number.
• Whenever possible ask patients to state their full name and date of birth. For patients who are unable to identify themselves (paediatric, unconscious, confused or language barrier) seek verification of identity from a parent or carer at the bedside. This must exactly match the information on the identity band (or equivalent).
• All paperwork relating to the patient must include, and be identical in every detail, to the minimum patient identifiers on the identity band.

Patient information and consent for transfusion

Where possible, patients (and for children, those with parental responsibility) should have the risks, benefits and alternatives to transfusion explained to them in a timely and understandable manner. Standardised patient information, such as national patient information leaflets, should be used wherever possible.

Pre-transfusion documentation

Minimum dataset in patient’s clinical record:

• Reason for transfusion (clinical and laboratory data).
• Summary of information provided to patient (benefits, risks, alternatives) and patient consent.

Prescription (authorisation)

The transfusion ‘prescription’ must contain the minimum patient identifiers and specify:

• Components to be transfused
• Date of transfusion
• Volume/number of units to be transfused and the rate or duration of transfusion
• Special requirements (e.g. irradiated, CMV negative).

Requests for transfusion

Must include:

• Minimum patient identifiers and gender
• Diagnosis, any significant co-morbidities and reason for transfusion
• Component required, volume/number of units and special requirements
• Time and location of transfusion
• Name and contact number of requester.

Blood samples for
pre-transfusion testing

All patients being sampled must be positively identified.

• Collection of the blood sample from the patient into the sample tubes and sample labelling must be a continuous, uninterrupted event involving one patient and one trained and competency assessed healthcare worker.
• Sample tubes must not be pre-labelled.
• The request form should be signed by the person collecting the sample.

Collection and delivery of blood component to clinical area

• Before collection, ensure the patient (and staff) is ready to start transfusion and there is good venous access.
• Only trained and competent staff should collect blood from transfusion laboratory or satellite refrigerator.
• Authorised documentation with minimum patient identifiers must be checked against label on blood component.
• Minimum patient identifiers, date and time of collection and staff member ID must be recorded.
• Deliver to clinical area without delay.

Administration to patient

• The final check must be conducted next to the patient by a trained and competent healthcare professional who also administers the component.
• All patients being transfused must be positively identified.
• Minimum patient identifiers on the patient’s identity band must exactly match those on blood component label.
• All components must be given through a blood administration set
  (170–200 µm integral mesh filter).
• Transfusion should be completed within 4 hours of leaving controlled temperature storage.

Monitoring the patient

Patients should be under regular visual observation and, for every unit transfused, minimum monitoring should include:

• Pre-transfusion pulse (P), blood pressure (BP), temperature (T) and respiratory rate (RR).
• P, BP and T 15 minutes after start of transfusion – if significant change, check RR as well.
• If there are any symptoms or signs of a possible reaction – monitor and record P, BP, T and RR and take appropriate action.
• Post-transfusion P, BP and T – not more than 60 minutes after transfusion completed.
• Inpatients observed over next 24 hours and outpatients advised to report late symptoms (24-hour access to clinical advice).

Completion of transfusion episode

• If further units are prescribed, repeat the administration/identity check with each unit.
• If no further units are prescribed, remove the blood administration set and ensure all transfusion documentation is completed.