Giving blood without an ID bracelet or Consent

[nurseryRN14]

I gave blood a couple of months ago without an ID band and I knew better. Myself and another nurse checked the chart for the order from md, labs, consent, compared the blood with the paperwork, then we were getting ready to compare the blood to the ID band on the pt when I noticed that the patient didnot have one. I immediately checked the chart to see if it may have fallen off the patient or if someone may have put it in the chart. The bracelet was not there. I let the charge nurse know and told her that I wanted to call the supervisor and she said to just get a sticker and put it on a band. They evidently do this all the time here. I argued with her about her knowing that this was not right and the if anything happened I could lose my license and possibly kill somebody. The original nurse who was checking the blood with me decided that she didnt want to go through with it, which I understood, so I tell the charge nurse, since she says its ok, she needs to sign. The pt was losing alot of blood and really needed the blood that night. I had given him blood a couple of nights before and knew him, but I am always strict with the rules. I have never been so ****** off. You never know where the sample of blood may have come from. At this hospital that I work in, it takes hours for the courier to bring and take blood back to any place. Anyway the next day, I tell the nurse who always thinks she is super nurse that the pt didnt have a ID band on to check the blood last night, she claims it fell off. I know that was a lie because I looked everywhere in his room and on him. Usually when you ask her to get something for a pt and the next night you come in she still don't have it done . This time she got that ID band printed and placed on the pt because she knew she was wrong. This is a specialty hospital in DC and there is always something going on. A month ago, two nurses gave blood without a consent. One decided to quit because she thought the manager was gonna fire her. I need to find another job before I lose my license in this place.

[canchaser, BSN, RN]

I thought giving blood without consent is battery. Is it not? Good luck on your job search.

[Fribblet]

I thought giving blood without consent is battery. Is it not? Good luck on your job search.

It's battery only if the patient states they don't want it.

We give blood on emergency situations all the time without a consent. If they're dying and unresponsive when they get to us, too bad, they're getting blood! Unless the have something on them, like a bracelet, that states otherwise.

In every other situation (because trauma is unique in that regard), it's bad practice and, I'm sure, against policy. I can't see it being battery though. Although you have no proof that the patient was informed of the risks/benefits and consented.

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

How did she just print one and put it on the pt.. I am confused.. At my hospital, lab comes up for the type and screen and only they can put the blood band on.. No reprinting.. If it falls off or missing a new type and screen is needed.. I would not give blood without a band, or consent outside a trauma..

[wooh, BSN, RN]

^Not all hospitals do the blood band thing. What's the difference between a specially printed armband and putting a pt id sticker on a band? If they have something connected to them that has their name on it, that's the important thing. It's not like the printed armband has DNA identification and will melt if put on the wrong person.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

I"m sorry - I'm confused. did you give the blood or not?

If you gave the blood without an ID band on, why are you so angry with anyone.

If you didn't give the blood did someone else and that is why you are so upset?

You say that another nurse replaced the ID band - what is the protocal in your hospital about replacing ID bands?

You say that you are going to quit because you are worried about losing your license due to problems like this, yet it seems like you are part of the problem too.

I have to add that we don't have blood bands at my hospital - is this is what was missing?

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

That's why I said at my hospital.. Each hospital/state is different..

If your hospital doesn't use the infamous blood bands, why didn't you print it off and put it on the pt yourself once you noticed it was missing?

[Isabelle49]

^Not all hospitals do the blood band thing. What's the difference between a specially printed armband and putting a pt id sticker on a band? If they have something connected to them that has their name on it, that's the important thing. It's not like the printed armband has DNA identification and will melt if put on the wrong person.

When the lab bands the patient for type and match, the band has a number on it that is specific for that patient - it is not the same as the medical record number issued on admit. When blood is received to be given to a patient the blood will have a sticker on it and paperwork with the number that matches the patient's band. It is extremely dangerous to hang blood on a patient without matching the information on the band against the blood bag and paperwork. I would think this would be a negligent act and would also be reckless and could be considered an act of Moral Turpitude by the BON, which could very well result in license revocation.

In the situation of major trauma where a patient can't be T&M fast enough, one of the 'O' types of blood can be given (I can't remember if it is + or -), but is always done under the direction of the MD until the T &M can be completed.

I would Never Ever hang blood in a routine situation without the patient having a blood bank band in place, or whatever the hospital policy is. I would never make one up either. As someone said earlier, you risk killing a patient by doing this.

[Isabelle49]

^Not all hospitals do the blood band thing. What's the difference between a specially printed armband and putting a pt id sticker on a band? If they have something connected to them that has their name on it, that's the important thing. It's not like the printed armband has DNA identification and will melt if put on the wrong person.

It could be a major problem if there are more than on patient in the hospital with the same name. The blood bank band has a number printed on it that is patient/blood bank specific and must be matched against all labels on blood products given to the patient.

[opossum]

^Not all hospitals do the blood band thing. What's the difference between a specially printed armband and putting a pt id sticker on a band? If they have something connected to them that has their name on it, that's the important thing. It's not like the printed armband has DNA identification and will melt if put on the wrong person.

In our hospital, the lab prints out a special band that has their own serial numbers on it, which we place on the blood order with their ID sticker. Seems like overkill, but I think there's a reason for it...just another system of checks and balances. I don't think I'd even be able to *obtain* the blood, let alone give blood (outside an ER situation) without the special blood band.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Not all hospitals do the blood band though. It sounds like OP's doesn't, because I've never known a hospital that uses blood bands that would let anyone "print" another one. And apparently another nurse did print another band of some sort. Since they could do that, it sounds like it's a regular ID band.

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

At my hospital (and several others that I have worked at) do not use the blood band. We use their regular id band. We match the the name and MRN and the date of birth. We never have had a problem with niot using blood bands, and infact with some pt's getting multiple blood transfusions during the course of an admission, there would be too many blood bands on if they used them since it seems no one ever thinks to remove old unneeded bands.