Help on Spiking Blood Bags

[GlennRN]

Hi iam a new nurse and iam kinda scared on spiking the port on blood bags, iam always worried that i may puncture the bag, is their anyway i can practice spiking blood bags at home? can i buy an empty blood bag? thanks for your help

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

blood tubing that i've used doesn't seem to have as pointy/sharp of a spike that is inserted into the bag as tubing for regular IV fluids.

Just be careful - you should be fine!

[talaxandra]

In twenty years of nursing only once have I seen a spiked bag and that was during an arrest when the doctor hanging the blood was a little adrenalised. The plastic of the port is thicker than the bag itself and it would be hard to go in at an angle. If you still feel concerned when it comes time to hang your first unit then twist the spike rather than thrust it in.

[DoeRN]

I give blood all of the time. I spike it with the bag down and twist the spike in. I have never had any problems with this method. I actually do this with all IV fluids. I spiked a bag of fluids with the bag hanging and punched a hole in it. What a mess. I use the upside down/twist method and have not punctured a bag yet.

[GlennRN]

Thanks for your replies, well il be using that twist method from now on. Also i'd like to know if putting the bag on flat surface (the port and the sides of the bag will be parallel) while spiking help minimize risk of accidental punctures?

[talaxandra]

That would be fine

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I give blood just about everyday, and have never once punctured the bag.

I did start a transfusion without hooking it up to the patient, though, once. That was messy...