Getting OOB during a Blood Transfusion

Nurses General Nursing

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At our hospital it is a Policy that patients need to stay in bed while they are getting a Blood Transfusion. I am trying to find information from othe rhospitals that may allow patients OOB during the Transfusion. Can they get OOB after the first 2 vital signs or right away? Any other pertinent info???

Specializes in Med-Surg.

As far as transfers go, we get admits from ER and from recovery with blood running all the time. Also, when out outpatient department closes for the night, we get the patients whose blood transfusions haven't yet finished. They stay on our medical floor till the blood is done, then we discharge them.

My big question is WHY? Why should we limit the activity of patients getting blood transfusions? Can anyone cite sources telling why? Is it a concern about the patient having a reaction? Is it a concern about the blood product spilling or the flow being altered?
I'm not sure of the rationale and I am also looking for policies or data as to getting OOB vs not getting OOB. If any one knows where I can look I'd appreciate it. Thanks:)

We have patients that come to our day surgery unit and have blood transfusions on an outpatient basis. It all depends on the patient and their ability level and how they are feeling that dictates their activity. Alot of them are there for about 4 hours getting blood and it can get boring just sitting in that room. Usually a nurse will take them for a walk around the hospital and of course they get up to go to the bathroom.

This reminds me of a situation that happened at work a few months ago. There was this nurse that was always rude to me and for some reason she didn't like me. She made me feel bad a lot even though everyone else liked me.

Well, I had a patient with blood running and I told her I waited until after the blood was done before sending him to a routine X-ray I think. She got all tiffy with me because she said you can send people with blood anywhere. *I* wasn't comfortable with it.

Turns out the facility has a new policy that says a person with a blood transfusion going can't go anywhere unless accompanied by a nurse.

It just irritates me because nurses like her will always believe that they're right and I'm wrong.

I wouldn't send someone to xray either while they were getting blood, I would wait until after it was finished.

I would think that if I needed a unit of PRBCs I wouldn't feel much like getting OOB anyway. :chuckle
I sure didn't (feel like getting OOB).

I received 2 units of my own banked blood following back surgery (in April).

After the first 15 monutes of monitoring PT had me up and walking. My H&H were in the toilet and PT wouldn't take "later" for an answer from me OR my nurse.

I had lost 4 units of blood due to a GI hemorrhage. By the time I received 2 units of blood, I had been told to move from the bed to the recliner (I was able to walk by then). This was nice because I could reach the sink to rinse my hands after standing and urinating into the plastic urinal. There were no additional restrictions placed on me during the transfusion. Hooked up as I was to the ECG, automatic bp cuff, and with 2 IVs, I felt like a yappy little dog on a short leash. I assume that they used the video camera (this was the Critical Care Unit) to keep an eye on me, but we never talked about it.

I had lost 4 units of blood due to a GI hemorrhage. By the time I received 2 units of blood, I had been told to move from the bed to the recliner (I was able to walk by then). This was nice because I could reach the sink to rinse my hands after standing and urinating into the plastic urinal. There were no additional restrictions placed on me during the transfusion. Hooked up as I was to the ECG, automatic bp cuff, and with 2 IVs, I felt like a yappy little dog on a short leash. I assume that they used the video camera (this was the Critical Care Unit) to keep an eye on me, but we never talked about it.

I work on an Orthopedic unit . Alot of our patients have had their knee or hip replaced and are otherwise healthy so when they get blood it is usually their own. They may feel a little tired but usually don't feel that bad. This is why we would like to be able to get them at least oob to a chair or bathroom during the blood. They many times need 2 units and this takes up a good part of the dayshift. Our policy is that they must stay in bed during the transfusion. Is there any Orthopedic Nurses out there that have different policies?:uhoh3:

My big question is WHY? Why should we limit the activity of patients getting blood transfusions? Can anyone cite sources telling why? Is it a concern about the patient having a reaction? Is it a concern about the blood product spilling or the flow being altered?

I was told that it was because it's hard to treat a patient on the floor if the patient has a hemolytic reaction and falls. Then there's always the potential for a blood spill or a displaced IV, for instance.

All valid patient safety issues.

Our hospital policy says not to transfer patients with blood hanging either, Zac.

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