blood transfusions

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

I clamp the NS and let the blood run in. After the blood bag is empty, then I will unclamp the NS and finish out the rest of the blood in the tubing. There is a lot of blood left in the tubing if you don't use the NS and being that it is so expensive, I try to get every drop! The patient needs it after all.

We don't run the NS WITH the blood because you could over load the patient with fluids like that.... it is possible.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

Same here. Clamp the NS while the blood infuses, then unclamp the NS when the blood is nearly done to flush the rest of the line.

tolerantgirl · Mar 2, 2009

Thank you. That is what I did, but when I got home, I thought I had made a mistake keeping the NS clamped. That's what happens to me when I get home, I completel rethink everything I have done at start second guessing myself. Thank you for the help.

TalldiNY · Mar 2, 2009

:wink2:Just an aside to you as gentle advice. :wink2:Don't take work home with you. I count the trip home as "detox". I turn on the classic rock or a comedy cd and turn it LOUD. By the time I get home I can be a happy, relieved and 'not nurse' family member.

It took me 30 yrs and mutiple stress related health issues to learn a simple life motto. Do the very best 110% job of being a nurse you can while your there. When you get in the car to go home you are not one.

I further isolated myself by going to 12 hr shifts. This way I have 4 days to just be Di not DiRN. Best of Luck.

Di

ANH_RN · Mar 2, 2009

I learned the hard way that you keep the NS clamped when you're infusing the blood. After the blood bag is empty, I add an additional 100 ml or so to the VTBI and clamp the blood bag and unclamp the NS and let that flush it all the way through.

lamazeteacher · Mar 2, 2009

Thank you. That is what I did, but when I got home, I thought I had made a mistake keeping the NS clamped. That's what happens to me when I get home, I completel rethink everything I have done at start second guessing myself. Thank you for the help.

It's self protective to do that. If the nurse receiving your patient on the next shift didn't realize that the tube to the NS was clamped, she could let all the blood go through and it could clot before the normal saline tube was unclamped and went in, so it's better to keep that tube to it unclamped, and the NS bag positioned lower on the IV pole, so it will infuse after the blood runs through, and flush the tubing of it. At least that was the way we did it "in the day". :rolleyes:

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2009

It's self protective to do that. If the nurse receiving your patient on the next shift didn't realize that the tube to the NS was clamped, she could let all the blood go through and it could clot before the normal saline tube was unclamped and went in, so it's better to keep that tube to it unclamped, and the NS bag positioned lower on the IV pole, so it will infuse after the blood runs through, and flush the tubing of it. At least that was the way we did it "in the day".

hey, that is a good idea. I feel like a ditz for not thinking of that before.

RN BSN 2009 · Mar 2, 2009

Thanks! nice to learn something new

med/oncRN · Mar 2, 2009

Clamp the NS, run the blood and then flush with NS so the patient receives all the blood.