Where is blood not admnistered?

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2009

The clinic where I work (Doctor's office) does administer blood products when needed.

otessa

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 25, 2009

Those homecare agencys that specialize in IV infusion may provide blood products when approved by/have arrangements with local blood banks. Give lots of PRBC's, platlets, FFP, Albumin, + few WBC's @ patient's homes.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jul 26, 2009

Those homecare agencys that specialize in IV infusion may provide blood products when approved by/have arrangements with local blood banks. Give lots of PRBC's, platlets, FFP, Albumin, + few WBC's @ patient's homes.

A WBC infusion? You mean like a DLI? I've never heard of a WBC infusion.

texas_lvn · Jul 26, 2009

I'll have to get my home care, long term care and rehab nurses to help me out. I think those and of course schools and jails don't administer blood. It certainly is administered in OR- as well as platelets. (Our oncology floor goes on "hold" when a liver transplant is being done- uses most of blood products- we don't get new supply till Red Cross comes in afternoon.)
We kid our ER nurses- they put off hanging blood as long as they can! Remember you need to licensed providers and the ability to handle a reaction if it should occur. The OR certainly has those abilities.
Anyone else know where blood, etc is NOT administered?

I worked in a prison (slightly different than jail, but along same lines) and we administered blood almost daily. We also have an er, icu and med surg area tho.

diane227, LPN, RN · Jul 26, 2009

Blood is administered in all areas of the hospital even as outpatients. It is not uncommon for a patient to come in to a facility to simply get an infusion and then just go home such as a cancer patient or a patient with chronic anemia. Also, in dialysis centers, they will often transfuse patients during dialysis if their HCT is low.

pcolaqtfighter77 · Jul 26, 2009

iam sure blood can be given anywhere if it is an absolute emergency. typically, if blood is ordered due to a low hematocrit and hemoglobin (in a hospital) there are a system of checks and balances, such as verification by 2 nurses (rn and rn) or lpn and rn, and a type and match and type and cross. blood can be administered through a central line, or a peripheral iv. good nursing practive is to administer through a gauge peripheral no smaller than a 20ga, unless you have like a really hard stick, and you check with the dr. some of these things you just learn as you go, as iam finding out. i have seen blood being administered while running a stretcher down the hallway in my hospital. dont know if it helps, but whatever!!

lamazeteacher · Jul 27, 2009

Someone told me that and I was just wondering. But in regards to home health I cant imagine blood being given. How would that be possible? Isnt a patient supposed to go to the hospital in order to get a transfusion? After all, what about anaphylaxis or needing the blood to remain refrigerated?

It can be given patients at hospital oncology chemo administration units, as an outpatient procedure. After a recommended interval following administration of the recommended # of units, patients can go home with specific instructions to call 911 if delayed s/s of anaphylaxis occur.

SunnyAndrsn · Jul 27, 2009

The LTC/TCU I work in does not administer blood or blood products. The local hospital's lab personal comes and does our lab draws, if someone would be in need of blood products, we would send them to the outpt. services at that hospital, which as an infusion center.

NurseKitten, MSN, RN · Jul 27, 2009

Depends on where you're at and local policy on giving blood in a dialysis clinic. We gave it until a patient died from a transfusion reaction. I gave it twice more after that, but only because the senior partner in the group gave permission for me and me alone (with my LPN cosigner, who had more experience than I did) to give it to someone who flat-out refused to go to the hospital.

That was 8 years ago. None since. If they get it around here, they go to the hospital.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2009

I've only given Albumin in chronic dialysis units and the pt had "bring thier own". Otherwise blood products are not generally given in chronic units especially in light of erythropoietin products out now to deal with anemic disorders. I'm sure it has to do with the liability issues also.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2009

Blood products were never administered in the psychiatric hospital where I once worked. In addition, I have never seen any blood products given in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospice houses, doctors' offices, home health routes, schools, radiology suites, or occupational health clinics.