The nurse is starting to administer a unit of packed red blood cells (PRBCs)to a patient admitted in hypovolemic shock secondary to hemorrhage.Vital signs include blood pressure 60/40 mm Hg,heart rate 150 beats/min,respirations 42 breaths/min,and temperature 100.6° F.What is the best action by the nurse?
A) Administer blood transfusion over at least 4 hours.
B) Notify the physician of the elevated temperature.
C) Titrate rate of blood administration to patient response.
D) Notify the physician of the patient's heart rate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the acute nature of the patient's blood loss,the nurse should titrate the rate of the blood transfusion to an improvement in the patient's blood pressure.Administering the transfusion over 4 hours can lead to a prolonged state of hypoperfusion and end-organ damage.The heart rate will normalize as circulating blood volume is restored.A mildly elevated temperature does not take priority over restoring circulating blood volume.

The Nurse Is Starting to Administer a Unit of Packed