Re: blood transfusions

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Maybe I'm just old and behind times, but I was taught that NOTHING is to run into the same IV site as a blood transfusion. I work with a nurse whom I have followed on 2 separate occasions who ran Versed into the same site as blood (PRC's), and NS w/20 KCL and a Zofran gtt y'd into the same angiocath as PRBC's. Can someone out there tell me I need to lighten up, or do I need to call the Red Cross??

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Nothing should be run with PRBC's. If you have a unit going and need to administer something. Stop the blood, flush and give the med, flush again and restart the blood. It takes 2 minutes. You are right.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

Nothing 'cept good ol' NS in my neck of the woods...(trying to sound hick...lol)

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You can run blood with NS and nothing else. :nono:

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NS only. If you have to do occasional projects as part of your yearly eval, blood product administration is a good topic. There's plenty of info available, it's useful, and just about everyone can benefit from a refresher.

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Specializes in ICU, HDU, Med, Surg,Resp,AME.

I have worked as an RN in at least 3 different countries now and I agree that only NS should ever be run with RPBC.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I have been told the same, only NS can be run with blood.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

We don't add anything to PRBCs.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Normal saline only. If only one IV site and need to give prn med like morphine stop blood flush line with saline give morphine and flush again with saline and restart blood.

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I'm an LPN, and in my facility we don't give blood; so I never take those patients.

*WHY* should nothing run with the blood? What is the biological/physiological basis behind not being able to give an IV push of morphine, for example, with the blood instead of stopping, flushing, giving med, and flushing again? Help me understand how that is different than giving it straight with the blood.

I just don't quite understand the reasoning behind it; I'm sure it's there, though our facility seems to have enough other suspect, outdated protocols...

Anyhow, thanks in advance.

J

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

Good question. I thought it was because in the unlikely event that you have a reaction, you really badly need to know if it's the blood that is causing it.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.
Maybe I'm just old and behind times, but I was taught that NOTHING is to run into the same IV site as a blood transfusion. I work with a nurse whom I have followed on 2 separate occasions who ran Versed into the same site as blood (PRC's), and NS w/20 KCL and a Zofran gtt y'd into the same angiocath as PRBC's. Can someone out there tell me I need to lighten up, or do I need to call the Red Cross??

I give blood almost every nite.

ONLY NS is run!!

You need separate site for anything else.

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