A patient has a blood transfusion reaction, and the transfusion is stopped. What should the nurse do with the remaining blood and transfusion administration set?

The correct action after stopping a blood transfusion due to a reaction is to return both the remaining blood and the transfusion administration set to the blood bank. This is essential for several reasons. First, returning the blood and set allows for investigation into the cause of the reaction, which is crucial for ensuring patient safety and preventing future incidents. The blood bank has protocols for handling these situations and can perform necessary testing to identify any potential problems with the blood components or the administration process.

Additionally, returning items ensures that they are properly documented and handled according to hospital policy and regulatory requirements, which helps maintain quality control and safety standards. Preservation of the blood and administration set is vital for potential analysis and testing, which can provide important information about the patient’s reaction and contribute to a safer blood transfusion process in the future.

Inappropriate actions, such as disposal in a biohazard container or simply documenting the incident without further steps, do not facilitate the required investigation and could hinder patient safety protocols.