Guidelines / Advice

Ordering and Administration of Blood

Preparation of the patient l Correct identification and verification of the patient and the blood unit l Correct aseptic technique l Monitoring of the patient during the transfusion l Special precautions


Procedures for the administration of blood may vary in different hospitals but safety is always the primary concern. As monitoring of the patient during the transfusion is usually a nursing responsibility, accurate and thorough guidelines should be available for all nurses.

In order to ensure the safety of transfusion, these guidelines should include:

1. Correct identification and verification of the
patient and the blood unit.
2. Correct aseptic technique.
3. Monitoring of the patient during the transfusion.
4. Special precautions.