blood products question

[RachelRN25]

Hi, I'm a new nurse on a busy medical floor and have a question about giving blood products. I've heard so many different answers when it comes to at what rate to run blood, FFP, and platelets. I know they are all different, yet can't seem to find a policy on it at work. What rate do you run these 3 blood products? Thanks! :)

[mcexclusive]

Read your hospital policy. I work oncology, so therefore, we give lots of blood products. FFP and platlets can be given over an hour or so depending on the Pt's cardiac history. Packed cells, over 2-3 hours. Hope this helps.

[puggymae]

Call the blood bank/lab. Somewhere in your facility there is a policy - they should be able (I hope!) to tell you what it is.

[rn/writer, RN]

One way to "cover yourself" is to ask the doctor to write a parameter of time for blood infusion when ordering, such as:

Give slowly over four hours...or rapid infusion followed by lasix, or give one unit of PRBC's over two hours, then draw H&H one hour post infusion, call with results, monitorl lung sounds and urine output.".....

Then, you are following his/her orders....

crni

Following a doc's order will not cover you if he/she writes something that violates policy and you obey those instructions. You are expected to know your facilities parameters and stay within them, regardless of what the doc writes in the orders.

As others have suggested, ask your nurse educator, your unit manager, the blood bank department in the hospital. It's important that you know the official policy so that if a doc writes an order that colors outside the lines, you will be able to spot the problem and get it corrected.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

this is a pamphlet for professionals from the american red cross with information about the various blood components and infusion guidelines:

• http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/profess/pgbtscreen.pdf - practice guidelines for blood transfusion