Single person check in blood transfusion

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In single person check during blood transfusion, the transfusing nurse is solely responsible should he/she commit errors. Therefore he/she must be extra careful in checking the blood products, checking patients, vital signs monitoring and all other aspects of transfusion. This would certainly minimise errors and near-misses. Any views on this? Thanks in advance.

This reads like a homework question.

How about you tell us your views on the statement you provided and we discuss it from there.

The OP is a practicing RN in the UK.

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Is this a thesis statemant or something? Here in the US, single checking blood is not allowed.

Not true Esme. I work in a ER in Florida and we give blood with no witness. Even in a non-emergent case. In fact that is the protocol for the entire hospital. I was shocked when I first came to this hospital and found this out.

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Not true Esme. I work in a ER in Florida and we give blood with no witness. Even in a non-emergent case. In fact that is the protocol for the entire hospital. I was shocked when I first came to this hospital and found this out.

Wow. I didn't know there WAS a hospital in the US that would have this as protocol! Just not best practice, imho.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I agree this is like an accident waiting to happen. There should be 2 RNs to check blood, ALWAYS.

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Specializes in EMERGENCY.

Thanks guys for sharing your views. I really appreciate and respect your opinions.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
Not true Esme. I work in a ER in Florida and we give blood with no witness. Even in a non-emergent case. In fact that is the protocol for the entire hospital. I was shocked when I first came to this hospital and found this out.
Is it "protocol," as in a written document on blood transfusions that states only one check is required, or is there a lack of a written protocol? There's a difference. My facility recently implemented an official protocol that most hospitals have had on their books for years, but most nurses would have stated the old way "wasn't required by protocol." Um, no. You can't require or not require something that doesn't have a written protocol in the first place.
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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Whoa....I had NO idea that any hospital in the US would give blood with only one check...I have practiced in Florida for the last 19 years...that makes my blood run cold!

It figures it would be in Florida....btw...without naming the facility, on what coast is it? north or south? I am in South East Fl and I can't see any of our facilities incurring the possible liability.

I would never be the RN hanging that blood....if I had to tackle another nurse I would get another check.

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Specializes in ..

All the responses talk about the two RN check when hanging the unit(s) of blood. What are your protocols for drawing the sample on the patient for the type & cross? Does your facility require two RNs to draw separate samples? or both to verify the sample draw?

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Is it "protocol," as in a written document on blood transfusions that states only one check is required, or is there a lack of a written protocol? There's a difference. My facility recently implemented an official protocol that most hospitals have had on their books for years, but most nurses would have stated the old way "wasn't required by protocol." Um, no. You can't require or not require something that doesn't have a written protocol in the first place.

I don't really know how to answer this. Maybe I should not have used the word "protocol"...all I know for a fact is that our hospital does not ever require an RN witness when hanging blood. We as RN's walk to the lab with our pts sticker...they issue the blood...we scan the pt and 4 bar codes on the bag of blood, put in pre-blood vitals and hang/administer. I guess they are counting on the computer/bar codes to be the second check.

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diva rn... I too am on the South East coast of Florida.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
diva rn... I too am on the South East coast of Florida.

Palm Beach County?

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Palm Beach County?

No not that far South. I don't know if you can message me as I am not a paying member, but if you can...I'll reply with the hospital.

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