Nokea
A client is admitted to the hospital with a bleeding ulcer and is to receive 4 units of packed cells. Which nursing intervention is of primary importance in the administration of blood?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary nursing intervention in the administration of blood is to correctly identify the client. This is crucial to ensure that the right blood is being administered to the right patient to prevent transfusion reactions and ensure patient safety. Before any blood transfusion, the nurse must verify the patient's identity using at least two unique identifiers, such as name, date of birth, and hospital or medical record number. Patient safety hinges on this critical step, making it the priority when administering blood products. While monitoring vital signs, checking the flow rate, and maintaining blood temperature are all important aspects of blood transfusion management, identifying the client is fundamental and must come first to prevent errors.