A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs.
What alternative option can the nurse suggest to reduce the risk of incompatibility, infection, and immunologic reaction?
"I recommend autologous transfusion, where you donate your own blood before surgery and receive it back during or after the procedure.”
"You should consider erythropoietin therapy, as it stimulates red blood cell production and reduces the need for transfusion.”
"Iron therapy can help increase your hemoglobin levels and reduce the need for transfusion; it's available orally or intravenously.”
"You may benefit from hemostatic agents, which promote clotting and stop bleeding when needed.”
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Autologous transfusion involves collecting and storing the patient's blood before a planned surgery or procedure, eliminating the risk of incompatibility, infection, and immunologic reactions associated with allogeneic (donor) blood transfusions.
This option aligns with the patient's religious beliefs and offers a safe alternative.
Choice B rationale:
Erythropoietin therapy stimulates red blood cell production but does not eliminate the need for transfusion entirely.
It may not align with the patient's refusal of blood products due to religious beliefs.
Choice C rationale:
Iron therapy can increase hemoglobin levels but may not completely eliminate the need for transfusion.
It also may not be a suitable alternative for the patient's specific condition.
Choice D rationale:
Hemostatic agents are not a substitute for blood transfusion.
They are used to control bleeding but do not address anemia or increase hemoglobin levels.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Allergic reaction.
Choice A rationale:
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) usually presents with acute respiratory distress, not urticaria, pruritus, and flushing.
It is characterized by the sudden onset of dyspnea, hypoxemia, and pulmonary edema.
Choice B rationale:
Bacterial contamination of blood products can lead to sepsis, but the symptoms described in the question (urticaria, pruritus, and flushing) are not indicative of bacterial contamination.
Symptoms of bacterial contamination would typically include fever, chills, and signs of infection.
Choice C rationale:
Febrile nonhemolytic reactions can cause fever, chills, and rigors, but they are not associated with urticaria, pruritus, or flushing.
Choice D rationale:
An allergic reaction, also known as a hypersensitivity reaction, can manifest with symptoms like urticaria (hives), pruritus (itching), and flushing.
These symptoms are indicative of an allergic response to components in the blood product, such as plasma proteins or allergens.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Delayed hemolytic reaction occurs more than 24 hours after a blood transfusion and is characterized by a drop in hemoglobin levels, jaundice, and a positive direct antiglobulin test (Coombs test)
It does not typically present with fever, rash, and pancytopenia, so it is not the best choice for the given symptoms.
Choice B rationale:
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a condition where donor T lymphocytes attack the recipient's tissues, often seen in bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients.
While it can cause pancytopenia, it typically occurs within a few weeks of transplantation, not four weeks after a blood transfusion.
Therefore, it is less likely to be the cause in this scenario.
Choice C rationale:
Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) occurs when viable T lymphocytes in the transfused blood attack the recipient's tissues.
Symptoms can include fever, rash, diarrhea, and pancytopenia.
TA-GVHD is a delayed complication of transfusion that typically presents about 1 to 6 weeks post-transfusion, making it the most likely cause of the symptoms described in the scenario.
Choice D rationale:
Post-transfusion purpura is a rare condition that occurs 5 to 12 days after a transfusion and is characterized by sudden severe thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and bleeding, often in the form of purpura.
It does not typically present with fever, rash, and pancytopenia, so it is not the best choice for the given symptoms.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.