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Blood Transfusion NCLEX Questions
Blood transfusions nclex questions for nursing: As a nurse you will be transfusing blood and you
will want to know how to properly perform this procedure.
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During a blood transfusion, the patient is at risk for various transfusion reactions like hemolytic,
allergic, febrile (non-hemolytic), graft versus host disease etc. Therefore, the nurse must be familiar
with how to monitor for these types of reactions, the various blood types, and how to transfuse
blood.
Don’t forget to watch the lecture on blood transfusions before taking the quiz.
Blood Transfusion NCLEX Questions
This quiz will test you on the nurse's role with blood transfusions in preparation for the NCLEX exam.
1. Red blood cells are very vital for survival. Which statement below is NOT correct about
red blood cells? *
A. "Red blood cells help carry oxygen throughout the body with the help of the protein
hemoglobin."
B. "Extreme loss of red blood cells can lead to a suppressed immune system and clotting
problems."
C. "Red blood cells help remove carbon dioxide from the body."
D. "Red blood cells are suspended in the blood's plasma."
2. You're providing care to a 36 year old male. The patient experienced abdominal trauma
and recently received 2 units of packed red blood cells. You're assessing the patient's
morning lab results. Which lab result below demonstrates that the blood transfusion was
successful? *
A. Hemoglobin level 7 g/dL
B. Platelets 300,000 µl
C. Hemoglobin level 15 g/dL
D. Prothrombin T ime 12.5 seconds
3. According to the American Association of Blood Banks, what is the recommended
hemoglobin level for a blood transfusion? *
A. 5-7 g/dL
B. 7-8 g/dL
C. 4-7 g/dL
D. 9-10 g/dL
4. What blood type is known as the “universal donor”? *
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type AB
D. Type O
5. What blood type is known as the “universal recipient”? *
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type AB
D. Type O
6. A patient needs 2 units of packed red blood cells. The patient is typed and crossmatched.
The patient has B+ blood. As the nurse you know the patient can receive what type of
blood? Select all that apply: *
A. B-
B. A+
C. O-
D. B+
E. O+
F. A-
G. AB+
H. AB-
7. A donor has AB- blood. Which patient or patients below can receive this type of blood
safely? *
A. A patient with O- blood.
B. A patient with A- blood.
C. A patient with B- blood.
D. A patient with AB- blood.
8. As the nurse you know that there is a risk of a transfusion reaction during the
administration of red blood cells. Which patient below it is at most RISK for a febrile (non-
hemolytic) transfusion reaction? *
A. A 38 year old male who has received multiple blood transfusions in the past year.
B. A 42 year old female who is immunocompromised.
C. A 78 year old male who is B+ that just received AB+ blood during a transfusion.
D. A 25 year old female who is AB+ and just received B+ blood.
9. Before a blood transfusion you educate the patient to immediately report which of the
following signs and symptoms during the blood transfusion that could represent a
transfusion reaction: *
A. Sweating
B. Chills
C. Hives
D. Poikilothermia
E. T innitus
F. Headache
G. Back pain
H. Pruritus
I. Paresthesia
J. Shortness of Breath
K. Nausea
10. Your patient needs 1 unit of packed red blood cells. You've completed all the prep and
the blood bank notifies you the patient's unit of blood is ready. You send for the blood and
the transporter arrives with the unit at 1200. You know that you must start transfusing the
blood within _________. *
A. 5 minutes
B. 15 minutes
C. 30 minutes
D. 1 hour
11. A patient who needs a unit of packed red blood cells is ordered by the physician to be
premeditated with oral diphenhydramine and acetaminophen. You will administer these
medications? *
A. 15 minutes before starting the transfusion
B. Immediately after starting the transfusion
C. Right before starting the transfusion
D. 30 minutes before starting the transfusion
12. A patient is receiving 1 unit of packed red blood cells. The unit of blood will be done at
1200. The patient is scheduled to have IV antibiotics at 1000. As the nurse you will: *
A. Stop the blood transfusion and administer the IV antibiotic, and when the antibiotic is
done resume the blood transfusion.
B. Administer the IV antibiotic via secondary tubing into the blood transfusion’s y-tubing.
C. Hold the antibiotic until the blood transfusion is done.
D. Administer the IV antibiotic as scheduled in a second IV access site.
13. You're gathering supplies to start a blood transfusion. You will gather? *
A. PVC free tubing and dextrose
B. Polyethylene-line tubing and 0.9% Normal Saline
C. Y-tubing with in-line filter and dextrose
D. Y-tubing with in-line and 0.9% Normal Saline
14. A patient is ordered to receive 2 units of packed red blood cells. The first unit was
started at 1400 and ended at 1800. You send for the other bag of red blood cells. As the
nurse you know it is priority to: *
A. obtain signed informed consent for the second unit of blood from the patient
B. obtain a new y-tubing set for this unit of blood
C. type and crossmatch the patient
D. hang a new bag of dextrose to transfuse with the blood
15. Before starting a blood transfusion the nurse will perform a verification process with
__________. This will include? *
A. any available personnel; physician's order, patient's identification, blood bank's
information, expiration date of blood
B. licensed personnel only (another RN); physician's order, patient's identification, blood
bank's information, patient's blood type and donor's type along with Rh factor, expiration
date, assess the bag of blood for damage or abnormal substances
C. blood bank; patient's identification, blood bank's information, patient's blood type and
donor's type along with Rh factor, expiration date, bag of blood for damage or abnormal
substances
D. licensed personnel only (another RN); blood compatibility, physician order, expiration date
16. Before initiating the blood transfusion, you obtain the patient's baseline vital signs,
which are: heart rate 100, blood pressure 115/72, respiratory rate 18, and temperature
100.8'F. Your next action is to: *
A. Administer the blood transfusion as ordered.
B. Hold the blood transfusion and reassess vital signs in 1 hour.
C. Notify the physician before starting the transfusion.
D. Administer 200 mL of the blood and then reassess the patient's vital signs.
17. You've started the first unit of packed red blood cells on a patient. You stay with the
patient during the first 15 minutes and: *
A. run the blood at 100 mL/min and then increase the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by
the patient.
B. run the blood at 20 mL/min and then increase the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by the
patient.
C. run the blood at 200 mL/min and then decrease the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by
the patient.
D. run the blood at 2 mL/min and then increase the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by the
patient.
18. A patient started receiving their first unit of blood at 1000. It is now 1010 and the patient
is reporting itching, chills, and a headache. In addition, the patient's temperature is now
99.8'F from 98'F. Your next nursing action is: *
A. Stop the transfusion
B. Notify the physician
C. Decrease the rate of the transfusion
D. Reassure the patient that this is normal and will resolve in 30 minutes.
19. What solution or solutions below are compatible with red blood cells? *
A. Normal Saline
B. Dextrose Solutions
C. Any medications with normal saline
D. No solutions are compatible with blood
20. A patient with O+ blood received A+ blood. The patient is at risk for? *
A. Febrile transfusion reaction
B. None: O+ and A+ are compatible blood types
C. Hemolytic transfusion reaction
D. Allergic transfusion reaction
21. Your patient is having a transfusion reaction. You immediately stop the transfusion.
Next you will: *
A. Notify the physician.
B. Disconnect the blood tubing from the IV site and replace it with a new IV tubing set-up
and keep the vein open with normal saline 0.9%.
C. Collect urine sample.
D. Send the blood tubing and bag to the blood bank.
SUBMIT
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Blood Transfusion Procedure Nursing | Reaction Types, Co…
Co…
Blood Transfusion NCLEX Questions
1. Red blood cells are very for vital survival. Which
statement below is NOT correct about red blood
cells?
A. “Red blood cells help carry oxygen throughout
the body with the help of the protein hemoglobin.”
B. “Extreme loss of red blood cells can lead to a suppressed immune system and clotting problems.”
C. “Red blood cells help remove carbon dioxide from the body.”
D. “Red blood cells are suspended in the blood’s plasma.”
The answer B. Extreme loss of red blood cells leads to anemia which can cause a patient to
experience shortness of breath (there is a decreased ability to carry oxygen throughout the body),
tachycardia, fatigue, pale skin color etc. Suppressed immune system can be from LOW white blood
cells, and clotting problems can be from LOW platelets.
2. You’re providing care to a 36 year old male. The patient experienced abdominal trauma and
recently received 2 units of packed red blood cells. You’re assessing the patient’s morning lab
results. Which lab result below demonstrates that the blood transfusion was successful?
A. Hemoglobin level 7 g/dL
B. Platelets 300,000 µl
C. Hemoglobin level 15 g/dL
D. Prothrombin Time 12.5 seconds
The answer is C. Hemoglobin levels are used to assess the effectiveness of a blood transfusion. A
normal Hgb level for a MALE is 14 to 18 g/dL. For a FEMALE, the level is 12 to 16 g/dL.
3. According to the American Association of Blood Banks, what is the recommended hemoglobin
level for a blood transfusion?
A. 5-7 g/dL
B. 7-8 g/dL
C. 4-7 g/dL
D. 9-10 g/dL
The answer is B. This is the recent recommendation for by the AABB (7-8 g/dL).
4. What blood type is known as the “universal donor”?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type AB
D. Type O
The answer is D. Type O is known as the universal donor.
5. What blood type is known as the “universal recipient”?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Type AB
D. Type O
The answer is C. Type AB is known as the universal recipient.
6. A patient needs 2 units of packed red blood cells. The patient is typed and crossmatched. The
patient has B+ blood. As the nurse you know the patient can receive what type of blood? Select all
that apply:
A. B-
B. A+
C. O-
D. B+
E. O+
F. A-
G. AB+
H. AB-
The answers are A, C, D and E. The patient must receive blood from either a donor that has O or B
blood. Since the patient is B+ (Rh factor is positive), they can receive both negative or positive
blood. So, the patient can receive B-, B+, O-, and O+ blood.
7. A donor has AB- blood. Which patient or patients below can receive this type of blood safely?
A. A patient with O- blood.
B. A patient with A- blood.
C. A patient with B- blood.
D. A patient with AB- blood.
The answer is D. Donors with AB type blood can only donate to others who have the AB type blood,
in this case AB- blood. However, they are the universal recipients in that they can receive blood for
every blood type but can only donate to their same exact blood type.
8. As the nurse you know that there is a risk of a transfusion reaction during the administration of red
blood cells. Which patient below it is at most RISK for a febrile (non-hemolytic) transfusion
reaction?
A. A 38 year old male who has received multiple blood transfusions in the past year.
B. A 42 year old female who is immunocompromised.
C. A 78 year old male who is B+ that just received AB+ blood during a transfusion.
D. A 25 year old female who is AB+ and just received B+ blood.
The answer is A. A febrile transfusion reaction is where the recipient’s WBCs are reacting with the
donor’s WBCs. This causes the body to build antibodies. It is most COMMON in patients who have
received blood transfusion in the past. Option B is at risk for GvHD (graft versus host disease).
Option C is wrong because this places the patient at risk for a hemolytic transfusion reaction (not
febrile). The patient is receiving incompatible blood. However, option D is not the patient at MOST
risk compared to option A. Note the patient is receiving compatible blood. Note the patient is
receiving compatible blood in this option.
9. Before a blood transfusion you educate the patient to immediately report which of the following
signs and symptoms during the blood transfusion that could represent a transfusion reaction:
A. Sweating
B. Chills
C. Hives
D. Poikilothermia
E. Tinnitus
F. Headache
G. Back pain
H. Pruritus
I. Paresthesia
J. Shortness of Breath
K. Nausea
The answers are A, B, C, F, G, H, J, and K. As the nurse you want to educate the patient to report signs
and symptoms associated with blood transfusion reactions, which would include: sweating, chills,
hives, headache, back pain, pruritus (itching), shortness of breath, and nausea.
10. Your patient needs 1 unit of packed red blood cells. You’ve completed all the prep and the blood
bank notifies you the patient’s unit of blood is ready. You send for the blood and the transporter
arrives with the unit at 1200. You know that you must start transfusing the blood within _________.
A. 5 minutes
B. 15 minutes
C. 30 minutes
D. 1 hour
The answer is C. The blood must be started within 30 minutes.
11. A patient who needs a unit of packed red blood cells is ordered by the physician to be
premeditated with oral diphenhydramine and acetaminophen. You will administer these
medications?
A. 15 minutes before starting the transfusion
B. Immediately after starting the transfusion
C. Right before starting the transfusion
D. 30 minutes before starting the transfusion
The answer is D. For ORAL medications you will administer the medications 30 minutes before
starting the transfusion.
12. A patient is receiving 1 unit of packed red blood cells. The unit of blood will be done at 1200.
The patient is scheduled to have IV antibiotics at 1000. As the nurse you will:
A. Stop the blood transfusion and administer the IV antibiotic, and when the antibiotic is done
resume the blood transfusion.
B. Administer the IV antibiotic via secondary tubing into the blood transfusion’s y-tubing.
C. Hold the antibiotic until the blood transfusion is done.
D. Administer the IV antibiotic as scheduled in a second IV access site.
The answer is D. If any IV medications will be needed while the blood is transfusing, the nurse will
need to start another IV access site. The nurse would NEVER administer the IV antibiotic in the
same tubing as the blood product or stop the transfusion. Remember blood is time sensitive and
must be transfused within 4 hours. Also, holding the antibiotic is not correct because antibiotics are
time sensitive as well and must be administered at the scheduled time to maintain blood levels.
13. You’re gathering supplies to start a blood transfusion. You will gather?
A. PVC free tubing and dextrose
B. Polyethylene-line tubing and 0.9% Normal Saline
C. Y-tubing with in-line filter and dextrose
D. Y-tubing with in-line and 0.9% Normal Saline
The answer is D. This is the type of tubing and solution you will use to transfuse blood. Normal
Saline is the ONLY solution used to transfuse blood!!
14. A patient is ordered to receive 2 units of packed red blood cells. The first unit was started at
1400 and ended at 1800. You send for the other bag of red blood cells. As the nurse you know it is
priority to:
A. obtain signed informed consent for the second unit of blood from the patient
B. obtain a new y-tubing set for this unit of blood
C. type and crossmatch the patient
D. hang a new bag of dextrose to transfuse with the blood
The answer is B. The patient has already received 1 unit of blood and another unit is needed. It took
4 hours for the first unit to transfuse and the nurse needs to obtain new y-tubing for the next unit of
blood. Y-tubing sets are only good for 4 hours. Some hospitals require new tubing sets with each unit
transfusion or after 4 hours….always check your hospital’s protocol.
15. Before starting a blood transfusion the nurse will perform a verification process with __________.
This will include?
A. any available personnel; physician’s order, patient’s identification, blood bank’s information,
expiration date of blood
B. licensed personnel only (another RN); physician’s order, patient’s identification, blood bank’s
information, patient’s blood type and donor’s type along with Rh factor, expiration date, assess the
bag of blood for damage or abnormal substances
C. blood bank; patient’s identification, blood bank’s information, patient’s blood type and donor’s
type along with Rh factor, expiration date, bag of blood for damage or abnormal substances
D. licensed personnel only (another RN); blood compatibility, physician order, expiration date
The answer is B. The nurse will verify with another licensed personnel (another RN) the physician’s
order, patient’s identification and blood bank’s information, patient’s blood type and donor’s type
along with the Rh factor, expiration date, assess the bag for damage or abnormal substances
BEFORE starting the transfusion.
16. Before initiating the blood transfusion, you obtain the patient’s baseline vital signs, which are:
heart rate 100, blood pressure 115/72, respiratory rate 18, and temperature 100.8’F. Your next
action is to:
A. Administer the blood transfusion as ordered.
B. Hold the blood transfusion and reassess vital signs in 1 hour.
C. Notify the physician before starting the transfusion.
D. Administer 200 mL of the blood and then reassess the patient’s vital signs.
The answer is C. The patient has an elevated temperature. Any temperature greater than 100’F
(before the administration of the blood) the physician should be notified.
17. You’ve started the first unit of packed red blood cells on a patient. You stay with the patient
during the first 15 minutes and:
A. run the blood at 100 mL/min and then increase the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by the
patient.
B. run the blood at 20 mL/min and then increase the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by the patient.
C. run the blood at 200 mL/min and then decrease the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by the
patient.
D. run the blood at 2 mL/min and then increase the rate after 15 minutes, if tolerated by the patient.
The answer is D. The blood will be started on an infusion pump at 2 mL/min, and if the blood is
tolerated by the patient, it will be increased AFTER 15 minutes. Remember the blood must be
transfused within 2-4 hours….most bags are 250 to 300 mL. During the first 15 minutes is when the
patient is most likely to have a transfusion reaction. Running the blood slowly during the first 15
minutes allows the patient to receive the LEAST amount of blood possible if a reaction does occur.
18. A patient started receiving their first unit of blood at 1000. It is now 1010 and the patient is
reporting itching, chills, and a headache. In addition, the patient’s temperature is now 99.8’F from
98’F. Your next nursing action is:
A. Stop the transfusion
B. Notify the physician
C. Decrease the rate of the transfusion
D. Reassure the patient that this is normal and will resolve in 30 minutes.
The answer is A. The patient is possibly having a transfusion reaction. FIRST, the nurse should STOP
the transfusion and then disconnect the IV tubing at the access site and replace it with NEW tubing.
In addition, have normal saline infusing to keep the vein open. THEN the nurse will notify the
physician and blood bank.
19. What solution or solutions below are compatible with red blood cells?
A. Normal Saline
B. Dextrose Solutions
C. Any medications with normal saline
D. No solutions are compatible with blood
The answer is A. Only NORMAL SALINE is compatible with blood.
20. A patient with O+ blood received A+ blood. The patient is at risk for?
A. Febrile transfusion reaction
B. None: O+ and A+ are compatible blood types
C. Hemolytic transfusion reaction
D. Allergic transfusion reaction
The answer is C. O+ and A+ are NOT compatible blood types. Patients with O+ can only receive
blood from others with O blood. This patient is at risk for a hemolytic reaction. This is where the
immune system is killing the donors RBCs. The antibodies in the recipient’s blood match the
antigens on the donor’s blood cells….the patient has been mistyped!!
21. Your patient is having a transfusion reaction. You immediately stop the transfusion. Next you will:
A. Notify the physician.
B. Disconnect the blood tubing from the IV site and replace it with a new IV tubing set-up and keep
the vein open with normal saline 0.9%.
C. Collect urine sample.
D. Send the blood tubing and bag to the blood bank.
The answer is B. This question wants to know your NEXT nursing action. AFTER stopping the
transfusion, the nurse will DISCONNECT the blood tubing from the IV site and replace it with a new
IV tubing set-up and keep the vein open with normal saline 0.9%. This will limit any more blood from
entering the patient’s system. THEN the nurse will notify the MD and blood bank.
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