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.
"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 -)"
O negative...
I'm hoping everyone and anyone that gives blood would know that. Especially during an emergency.
I believe in the OP it says ID band not blood band.
At my hospital we don't use blood bands and I didn't know what they were until I went to work for another facility prn. If the pt didn't have an ID band on phlebotomy wouldn't have drawn any labs so how'd that get done?
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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.
and you're talking about it now because......... Good luck on your search....
I don't see the problem with putting a new ID band on this patient. You admit that you took care of and gave blood to this patient a few days prior so you obviously know who this person is. In the future you can always use patient identifiers if you feel uncomfortable putting a new ID band on. For instance when someone comes into the ER with the medics and doesn't have photo ID on them, registration will verify name and DOB.
I really think you are making mountains out of mole hills here. It's not like this is a brand new patient that does not have an ID band.
As far as nurses giving blood without consent, that is not the facility's fault, it's the nurses. They should have known to check for consent. Didn't you prior to getting ready to give the blood?
In my hospital if the pt has had surgery we do not need a separate consent for blood products as that is covered under surgery consent for that entire hospital stay. I think some posts are taking it a little far. What would you sue her for? There are several ways to ID a patient. Could the pt state his name and birthdate? Did he have family to ID him? What if during the admission process someone put the wrong name band on? Just because Your hospital has certain policies doesn't mean it's the same everywhere.
And FWIW I check my pt bands with assessment as we use them for scanning.
The facility I worked in that used blood bands also had RN's responsible for phlebotomy. We had to have 2 nurses present to witness the drawing of the type/cross and placing the blood band on the pt. I think there must have been a sentinel event that led to this procedure. That makes me ill to think of what may have happened.
The current facility I work at doesn't use blood bands.
I was watching my buddy's pts while she was at lunch one night and she tells me if blood bank calls tell them I'll call back when I'm done with my break. Okay, no prob. Another nurse who likes to tend to everyone else's business takes the call from blood bank. Instead of asking she tells the BB "sure send it up", even though she knew our EMR went down unexpectedly. I was p:$$*# when she told me. But I decided to play dumb because this nurse could be rather dense at times. So we go into the pt room with the unit of prbc and do our checks against the blood and pt. Okay I ask, "where's the consent, order for blood and type/screen results"? "Oh yea I forgot the computers are down", she realizes finally, "well the CN knows about the order". I refused to bend the rules and to spike the blood I told her until I saw the consent, order, labs for myself. I made her walk the unit back down to blood bank so it didn't expire and have to be wasted.
Policies are there for a reason and you can't go wrong when you follow them.
The OP states "ID band", not "blood band". To me, this means that all that had to be done was to verify the patient's identification by asking them their name and DOB, and placing a new ID band on them. Since the original type and cross was tied to the patient, I don't really see the issue.
In my facility, we do use blood bands, which have serial numbers linked to the patient account. If that band were to be lost, then a new type and cross would have to be done and a new blood band placed on the patient.
I've never heard of blood bands until this thread. I am curious. Do you get a new band for each unit? If a pt where to 2 unit of PRC plus some FFP would you get band for every unit? Do you remove the band when the unit is done? How do you prevent having mulitple bands on a pt?
I'm not critising - just trying to learn something new!
The blood band is placed when the blood bank tubes are drawn. The same blood band stays on the patient for their entire hospital stay, and is used for verification every time a blood product is given.
Our blood band is good for 4 days before a new type and cross is needed.. Lab comes up draws for it and places the new band on while removing the old one..Why the new T&C every 4 days, I don't know.. I will check and see the rational behind the time line.. The consent for blood is good for the duration of their stay.
. Good luck on your search....
diprifan
80 Posts
"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 -)"
O negative...
I'm hoping everyone and anyone that gives blood would know that. Especially during an emergency.
Nick.