Safe practice in blood transfusion.

Nurses General Nursing

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If a doctor order to give 50mls of platelet to an infant and the blood bank issues 110mls. How will you administer it to make sure you don't overload the patient or give less as platelet is given by gravity?

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
offlabel said:
The responses on this thread are unbelievably petty...if this was a thread for physicians, folks would just share their expertise willingly and without a "hoarding" attitude as if there was some profound secret that was worth protecting...pitiful...OP is just asking colleagues for opinions and advice...what is the big deal? A patient might benefit from your advice maybe? Oh the horror...

The difference between this thread and a physicians

Thread is that the OP should at least look up their policy-coming to a website and doing something that may not a part of the protocol, such as drawing it up in a syringe as you suggested, may not be best practice for the OP...and a liability issue.

It's best if the OP look for the resources particular to their facility and go from there. :yes:

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

The original poster just joined yesterday. So this does sound like homework to most of us. We don't mind helping with homework but we want to see the original thoughts and the research that students have done. For example, Writing a paragraph about what research they have found and what they know about platelets and again yes stating the size of the patient, how many kilograms does this baby weigh, how old is it, what is their lab values such as the hemoglobin and hematocrit. What are the normal values for this infant or child for the H&H. The problem two is lately since it seems to be the end of the semester at many schools, we have been bombarded by new members joining that same day and asking for help with homework yet not showing any original research, so I think most people are annoyed.

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Specializes in NICU.

Well if you don't want to help with homework, don't you just ignore the question?

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
KRVRN said:
Well if you don't want to help with homework, don't you just ignore the question?

Actually most posts like these are ignored, I usually do but sometimes I try to explain what they need to do if they want help. Most never reply back. Why? probably did not get the responses (a few sentences or perhaps a paragraph that they can cut & paste) Cynical? No, just taught for ten years in a BSN program and entering 4th decade as a nurse. Went back to school after my LPN 3 times (ADN>BSN>MSN/FNP) so I have been a student many times. It never occurred to me to expect stranger on the internet to help with homework.

Here is an example of one asking for help; Joined same day as multiple posts. The responses would require a few paragraphs from AN members.(which then can cut/paste) If she had bothered to write the research she has done, if any, on the specialties she says she is interested in, people would probably respond.

https://allnurses.com/need-interviewees-paper-nursing-specialties-t613010/

Wanna bet the OP never comes back?:no:

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Specializes in ER.

Best practice would say not to hang something by gravity for a pediatric patient unless you're an EMS professional and even then it's kind of sketchy? I guess you could try to find a burritrol or I'd inform blood bank of the mistake while at the bank so they could redraw it up so they don't waste platelets?

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Hanging things by gravity isn't unheard of in pediatrics.

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

It really depends on the type of pump and wheter it has been evaluated to see of the platlets will remain free of cellular damage. Some pumps cannot be used because the platlets could be damaged.If you need tl give smaller volumes the blood bank can break up the units into smaller aliquots.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Julius Seizure said:
Hanging things by gravity isn't unheard of in pediatrics.

Only gravity I have hung in my pediatric career is enteral feelings; nothing as high risk as blood products, though. :no:

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Julius Seizure said:
Hanging things by gravity isn't unheard of in pediatrics.

Agree with LadyFree28. Aside from fluids or blood products administered during resuscitation, everything else was run on pump.

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Specializes in NICU.
offlabel said:
The responses on this thread are unbelievably petty...if this was a thread for physicians, folks would just share their expertise willingly and without a "hoarding" attitude as if there was some profound secret that was worth protecting...pitiful...OP is just asking colleagues for opinions and advice...what is the big deal? A patient might benefit from your advice maybe? Oh the horror...

Grow up.

To the OP...lots of ways to skin a cat...I'd draw it up in a 60 cc syringe and put it on a pump or slow push it if I had the time.

You need to turn on your Student Homework detector. This was their first post and had no background information given to indicate that they were a new grad with a question about hanging blood. If she were a new grad, she would have asked a co-worker instead of an anonymous message board. In addition, it was pretty much cut and paste question.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
Julius Seizure said:
Hanging things by gravity isn't unheard of in pediatrics.

Now Julius I remember that you are a student nurse (from when you changed your username). No. Peds you would use a pump & maybe even buretrol tubing for the pump so not to overload fluids.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Op created an account here to get the answer to a homework question. As a rule, the posters here won't do homework for students, but will help them figure something out AFTER they share their thoughts or what they think so far. You just jumped right in and did the homework for the op

KRVRN said:
I don't follow?
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