Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With HIV AIDS Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With HIV AIDS related questions and content

A client requires a blood transfusion for anemia and tells the nurse, 'I don't want a transfusion because I don't want to get AIDS.' Which is the best response from the nurse to the client?

  • A. It's always a possibility.'
  • B. You don't want to die, do you?'
  • C. The blood is screened, and your risk is one in two million.'
  • D. If you don't have the transfusion, you are taking a greater risk.'
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Before 1984, blood and blood products were a major source of HIV transmission. Since then, an HIV screening test known as nucleic acid testing (NAT) is performed on all blood and plasma donations. Although screening donated blood for HIV antibodies reduces the risk of transfusion-related infection with HIV, it is not flawless. The Verywell Health's website states that the risk for HIV infection in the United States from a blood transfusion is approximately one in two million units of blood. Informing the client that transmission is always a possibility does not provide any information that will be relevant to the decision. The other responses are nontherapeutic and, therefore, should not be used as a response to the client's statement.