Before initiating a blood transfusion, what should the nurse's first action be?
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Correct answer: Verify the physician order and obtain informed consent
Before starting a transfusion, the nurse must verify the order and ensure informed consent is signed as part of safe practice.
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More Blood Transfusion Therapy and Nursing Care questions
- What is a critical safety step just prior to administering a unit of blood?
- How long should the nurse monitor vital signs after initiating a transfusion?
- Which intravenous fluid is compatible for priming and flushing the blood administration set?
- What is the maximum time a unit of red blood cells should hang from start to finish?
- When a patient develops dyspnea, cough, hypertension, and jugular vein distension during a transfusion, what reaction is suspected?
- What should a nurse do if a patient's pre-transfusion vital signs show Temp 100.2 °F, HR 98, BP 110/70?