Transfusing blood

[Grasshopper11]

Two nurses showed me how they hang blood and each does it a slightly different way.

One flushes the Y tubing with normal saline and then runs the blood while clamping off the NS.

The other clamps off the NS and does not use it. She just flushes the line with the blood stating that if you flush with the NS then during the first 15 minutes you are not getting accurate vitals because the pt did not get blood for 15 minutes.

Opinions anyone?

[Nursey103, ADN, RN]

I also prime the line with NS first, clamp it & then spike the blood. I run it fast at first & when the blood gets close to the patient I slow it down & then begin my timing.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I always have primed the tubing with NS. For one, I can get the air bubbles out and get the tubing primed so if I have problems with the tubing I'm not wasting blood, only saline.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I have been taught to prime the entire line with NS first, then clamp it off. Unclamp the blood and let that run through. I let it run all the through until it is close to the end of the tubing THEN put it on the pump and connect it to the patient. You need to stay with the patient for the first 15 minutes to monitor for a reaction - this means when the blood actually REACHES the patient. If you don't do this, all you have is NS infusing into the patient until the blood actually gets there - the patient isn't going to display signs of a possible transfusion reaction until the blood reaches the patient.

[krista312]

i flush with NS first I personally wouldn't prime my line with blood related to the fact that blood needs to be in a bio bag and opening up your clamp over the sink just isnt a practice i would take on i don't want to be exposed unnessicarily to anyones blood regarless of the testing it goes through in the blood bank (just grosses me out!) and we all know accidents happen! personally i prime the tubing with all NS run the NS quickly into the patient and just before the blood reaches the pt turn the flow down to whatever the policies iniital rate states...and so far so good... also i have never seen a nurse prime with blood unless an emergent senario

[Music in My Heart]

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The horse done died...

[BluegrassRN]

What does your facility's protocol say?

[nerdynurse00]

I always prime with NS first, then like several others have mentioned, flush til the blood is to the end of the line (either set my pump at 999cc/h or open up the line wide open) over a garbage can or whatever. I have been taught several ways, but this is the way I roll. That way, I'm not wasting blood if there are any bubbles in the line.

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