Nursing Students Student Assist
Published Oct 9, 2014
seipfamily
1 Post
So the question is: Order: 1 unit PRBC's to infuse over 2-4 hours. Infusion is started. How fast should infusion begin? What is the total volume to be infused?
I have 1 mL for the first 15 minutes but how do I know how much a unit of blood is?
SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN
4 Articles; 2,058 Posts
The unit SHOULD have the total volume on the label. If not, call the blood bank.
203bravo, MSN, APRN
1,210 Posts
Generally accepted measurements --- but they do vary from lab to lab:
Packed red blood cells (PRBCs): 300 mL/unit
Whole blood: 450–500 mL/unit
fresh frozen plasma (FFP): 250–300 mL/unit
Platelets: 40–50 mL/unit
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN
5,047 Posts
Ours have 330-350 ml per unit; the volume is printed on the label.
akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P
3,498 Posts
Yes, the first 15 minutes you want the blood to go in slowly so that you can watch for transfusion reactions. If the rate is 1 mL/min for 15 min, that's the same as 60 ml/hr. Of course that's not the whole volume and not the desired rate. PRBC's can be about 300 mL but the actual amount in the bag can vary a bit. Just look at the label for the exact volume.
For testing purposes, your school/instructor should provide you with a standard volume for PRBC's and the like.
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 20,908 Posts
Welcome!
What semester are you? Thank akulahawkRN they have been very nice to you in giving you your answer. What did your research show you?
https://www.giveblood.ie/Clinical_Services/Haemovigilance/Publications/Guidelines_for_the_Administration_of_Blood_and_Blood_Components.pdf