Blood Transfusion Procedure Nursing | Reaction Types, Complications (Hemolytic/Febrile) NCLEX

Blood transfusion procedure nursing lecture: transfusion reaction (hemolytic, febrile, allergic, GvHD) and complications for NCLEX.

What is a blood transfusion? It’s where the nurse transfuses a patient with new red blood cells via a venous access. It is most commonly donated red blood cells.

WHY do patients need blood transfusions? Because the patient is low on RBCs (erythrocytes). This may be due to anemia (body not producing enough substances to maintain or produce red blood cells like in renal failure, cancers etc.) or the patient has experienced excessive blood loss (surgery or trauma)

What's the importance of RBCs? Our body can't function without them very well! A patient will start to look pale, feel weak, experience shortness of breath with activity, and tachycardia (heart has to work harder) etc.

Red blood cells, with the help of the protein hemoglobin, carries oxygen it receives from the lungs throughout our body and helps remove the CO2 built up in our body to the lungs to be exhaled. The body's organs need fresh oxygen to function.

When is a patient usually transfused? It depends on what is going on with the patient, but recent guidelines by the American Association of Blood Banks recommends transfusing blood when a hemoglobin levels fall 7-8 g/dL.

What are normal hemoglobin level? It varies depending on gender:
Men: 14 to 18 g/dL
Women: 12 to 16 g/dL

Nurse’s Responsibilities: as a nurse working in a hospital transfusing blood is VERY common! You need to know this for not only NCLEX but the job as well. Most hospitals only allow registered nurses to transfuse blood. The nurse will prepare the patient for the transfusion (draw labs, obtain informed consent etc.), transfuse and monitor the patient during the transfusion for a transfusion reaction. Please see the video for in depth details on the blood transfusion procedure.

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[keyarev]

Sarah! Thank you! Thank you! Just found out today I passed NCLEX on my 5th try in 75 questions. I failed so many times and spent money I did not have on NCLEX Review materials that did not work for me. But through the grace of God I found you. Your lecture videos have helped me the most and the quizzes. You’re one of the main reasons I passed NCLEX. I have shared my story on nursing forums and recommend your videos. Thank you so much Sarah. Your teaching skills are so amazing. Thank you for taking the time by sharing your knowledge with us. Continue to help others God knows we need you; I could not have done this without you. Thank you!!!

[medicalstudybuddy]

I am a physician and I learn so much from your videos! Thanks so much!

[icondoy]

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[msbutterflyify]

Thank you for making lecture videos for free. God bless this channel. Thank you for saving us, so that we can save others soon.

[tonym]

Great video Sarah, very well done! I've had a few transfusions in my life when I had a bleeding ulcer in my 40s, I'm 70 now. I never realized how much was going on at the time. Thank God for you nurses!

[fancycavegaming]

My wife is going in for a transfusion for the first time today. She has anemia. I can't say this video has made me feel better, but I do feel like I'm more informed. Thank you.

[christinawells]

I'm a nurse practitioner who recently started in a small ER as an RN, just PRN. Your videos are such a good refresher! And I love your accent, I could listen to you all day.

[NurseLiz]

This was a great review! I had a patient just the other day that had a severe reaction and this is a wonderful synopsis of how to handle that situation. Great resource!

[GregorySawyer]

Thanks Sarah. I'm a Critical Care Paramedic in Vail, and we frequently are on the road for a couple hours with patients. Your videos are great information, and this level of instruction is just not readily available to Paramedics. Thank you for what you do !

[dnae_islander]

I just want to say thank you for investing your time, knowledge, experience, and resources! You are such a great help!! The explanations are wonderful, the cute drawings are helpful for visual people like myself, AND you give us sooo much! I just wanted to say I TRULY appreciate EVERYTHING -the videos and the quizes. There are so many resources available out here, but lot of times you have to pay and/subscribe. And I know the reality of it is other people need to make money, but my reality is that I'm in school and I want to do my best. So thank you thank you thank you!

[judycasey]

Thanks. Another great session. Only complaint which is not a complaint is that you are so thorough that a 25 minute video takes me half a day to take notes.
Graduated in May, passed NCLEX in July, thought I was finally done needing you but NO. Now using videos for Residency.
This is a great service you are providing us. You deserve many blessings. Thanks Again.

[zyxomma]

As a scientist and blood banker this is a great vid. I cannot stress enough the importance of nursing knowing their basic ABO/Rh compatibilities. If you don't know, definitely call and ask! Always better to ask than to deal with the fallout of serologic incompatibility/HTR.

[GG]

I know a new mom that died a week after her blood transfusion . She gave birth, got transfused with blood and a week later died. The husband said she died of GVHD. I felt so bad for him he was now widowed with a new born and a 2 year old. She was an amazing woman...

[medinamecca]

Hello Sarah, thank you for sharing your excellent knowledge. I have been using your videos as a review to prepare for my NCLEX exam & I passed :) Thanks again.

[williamnewberry]

just want to say thanks i graduate in 2 months and you have helped my a lot over the last 2 years

[silverust]

You are amazing! Lots of my nursing classmates use your site. Especially, now with the transition to online. You explain topics much better than most teachers!

[aminainnocentnacy]

I am a nurse in Italy working in the hospital for old age people great presentation I have learned a lot from you today thanks great job 👌💖

[sharonschallenges]

You are the best, i told my whole class about this channel and they are all so impressed. Thank you

[GG]

I'm debating if I want to go on in my nursing career. I'm watching these videos to see if I can grasp this stuff and if it's of interest to me...it's looking pretty good so far...

[abdulhaikal]

Since I am following you, I have learned a lot. God bless you and your family.