what nurses do if a patient wants blood transfusions

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As a nurse, do you have to assist the doctor during a blood trasfusion.?

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Very curious to know about this kind of situation,

Giving blood transfusions to whom? A vampire? Not my type ;-).

I see you just added to a patient. That information was missing.

Is there a specific situation you are referring to?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I know you are still a student...we are happy to jump right in after you tell us what your research has revealed to you.

I am confused about your question...it s patient needs a blood transfusion it is given. Facilities do not randomly give blood because a patient thinks they need it.

Did you mean a patient that needs a transfusion/blood and is refusing to receive blood?

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.
Giving blood transfusions to whom? A vampire? Not my type ;-).

I see you just added to a patient. That information was missing.

Is there a specific situation you are referring to?

Hahaha...Very funny! :roflmao:

I am sure vampires would love getting blood transfusions. I was thinking more of giving blood to Red Cross but I will take vampires too. Seriously OP, please elaborate.

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Under most circumstances, a nurse is the one actually giving the blood transfusion ...not just assisting. Before a transfusion is given, the MD must order it and the patient must give informed consent (assuming the situation is not urgent and the patient is not incapacitated).

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

Yeah where are these doctors who will do my transfusions for me? I work Onc...I do a lot:)

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Nurses don't assist the MD when giving a blood transfusion--we do it by ourselves. The MD gets consent from the pt to receive blood products (unless it's an emergent situation...say the pt has half a dozen bullets in him, he's bleeding out, unconscious w/ no family present) and orders the transfusion. The nurse or lab tech draws blood for a type and cross, and sends the requisition form to the blood bank. Blood bank sends the blood. Two nurses check to make sure it's the right pt, right type, and right product for the transfusion. Nurse administers the blood and monitors the pt.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Where is this doctor that you speak of? Because he's not anywhere around my patient's when I'M giving them blood transfusions. Doctors typically don't give blood transfusions. Perhaps in the OR, the anesthesiologist would, I don't know but in general, nurses are the ones doing the transfusions. The doctor isn't there.

And add me to the list of people confused by the title of this thread. We don't give blood transfusions because the patient "wants" one. We give them because the patient needs one.

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Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.

haha. a doctor hanging blood. that's funny. the doctor may say a thing or two to the patient about it, write the order, then takes off.

nurses give blood by themselves.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I suspect that English may not be the OP's first language, hence the confusion about this post. Hopefully she will come back to this thread and elaborate a little on what she was looking for.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

If you asking if you are required to give blood, and you morally object to it, that is another question altogether. There are many threads here about that.... mostly on religious objections.

Generally yes, we are required to give blood transfusions as ordered, with the patient's consent. Those with moral objections need to have that settled with their employer, if they cannot/will not participate, their coworkers will have to step in; which can cause hard feelings. If their employer insists, it is either resign or be fired, if accommodated, you need to cover other duties for your coworkers while they do yours.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
I suspect that English may not be the OP's first language, hence the confusion about this post. Hopefully she will come back to this thread and elaborate a little on what she was looking for.

Yes, they may also be a fan of "House," where the MDs push meds, hang IVs, draw labs, run the labs, run the equipment during all tests, transport patients, perform surgeries, then take tissues/cultures/whatever from surgery, then run the path labs themselves.....

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