IVIG

[chemdawg, MSN]

Currently at our facility there is not a need to obtain a consent for IVIG. As this is made from over a 1000 seperate donor's blood products, and has a potential in causing a reaction in up to 30% of the population, is this current practice? I distinctly remember there being a place on the Blood Administration Consent for Immunoglobulin (IVIG), that you could select.

Thanks for any input, most of the information I am finding is for other countries.

[MunoRN, RN]

There's nothing we do to a patient that doesn't require consent, it's up to organizations to determine which particular consents they want written documentation of. Some may chose to document a patient's consent to administration of immunotherapy agents with written consent, others might not.

[chemdawg, MSN]

Thanks for the feedback. There is always verbal consent on everything we do, if it is feasible. I am looking to hear how others are doing it to determine if it is worth looking into a possible policy change down the line. I have only been at this system a year, the previous place I mentioned was in another state 8 years ago. Basically in 10 years of nursing, I have yet to give it , but recently had a patient needing it.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Albumin is also a product of human plasma and everywhere I've worked or been a patient/had a family member as a patient treated it like a medication. There was no blood consent required. I'm sure IVIG is considered the same way.

[Just me.]

Do you get it from the hospital pharmacy? If it comes from them, they would likely know the need for consent. Like with blood bank, they usually get sent certain documentation sent back to them for things like rhogam at our hospital. Or call a unit that does infusion therapy and double check with them. It sounds like your saying there is no hospital policy or procedure instructions, but check with your unit manager?

[Tink87, BSN, LPN, RN]

I also give IVIG and we also do not require an official consent. It's definitely a weird policy.