RN Physiological Adaptation NCLEX Questions Related

Review RN Physiological Adaptation NCLEX Questions related questions and content

The nurse checks a unit of blood received from the blood bank and notes the presence of gas bubbles in the bag. What action should the nurse take?

  • A. Return the bag to the blood bank.
  • B. Infuse the blood using filter tubing.
  • C. Add 10 mL normal saline to the bag.
  • D. Agitate the bag to mix contents gently.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse should return the unit of blood to the blood bank because the gas bubbles in the bag indicate possible contamination. Whenever administering blood, the nurse would use filter tubing to trap particulate matter. Although normal saline can be infused concurrently with the blood, normal saline or any other substance should never be added to the blood in a blood bag. The bag should not be agitated because this can harm red blood cells.