A patient receiving a unit of blood begins to show signs of a transfusion reaction. How frequently should the nurse monitor the patient's vital signs after stopping the transfusion?

Monitoring vital signs after discontinuing a transfusion in a patient who shows signs of a transfusion reaction is critical for detecting any changes in the patient's condition. The recommendation to check vital signs every 15 minutes is based on the need to ensure patient safety and to promptly identify any complications that may arise after the transfusion has stopped.

This interval allows for timely assessment of the patient's response to the stopped transfusion and the effectiveness of any interventions that may have been implemented. Observing the patient at this frequency can help identify early signs of severe reactions or complications, enabling the healthcare team to take appropriate action swiftly.

The rationale for not choosing shorter intervals, such as every 5 or 10 minutes, is that while those may seem prudent, 15 minutes strikes a balance between being vigilant and avoiding unnecessary burdens on clinical resources. On the other hand, monitoring every 30 minutes might not allow for quick enough detection of worsening conditions, which is why it is recommended to do so every 15 minutes in this scenario.