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Nursing 354 Blood Transfusion Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Before initiating a blood transfusion, which action is the nurse's priority?
A. Obtain the patient's temperature after the transfusion begins
B. Verify the blood product and patient identification according to facility policy
C. Administer an antipyretic medication
D. Encourage the patient to drink fluids
Answer: Verify the blood product and patient identification according to facility
policy
Rationale: Correct patient and blood-product identification is essential because
an identification error can result in an acute, potentially life-threatening
transfusion reaction.
2. Which blood product is primarily administered to increase oxygen-carrying
capacity?
A. Fresh frozen plasma
B. Platelets
C. Packed red blood cells
D. Cryoprecipitate
,Answer: Packed red blood cells
Rationale: Packed red blood cells increase hemoglobin and hematocrit and
improve the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.
3. Which blood component is most appropriate for a patient with
thrombocytopenia and active bleeding?
A. Platelets
B. Packed red blood cells
C. Fresh frozen plasma
D. Albumin
Answer: Platelets
Rationale: Platelet transfusion is used to increase platelet numbers in patients
with significant thrombocytopenia or platelet-related bleeding.
4. A patient receiving packed red blood cells develops chills, fever, and low
back pain. What should the nurse do first?
A. Slow the transfusion
B. Stop the transfusion
C. Administer acetaminophen
D. Continue monitoring
Answer: Stop the transfusion
Rationale: Fever, chills, and back pain may indicate an acute hemolytic reaction.
The transfusion should be stopped immediately and the patient's condition
assessed.
5. Which intravenous solution is compatible with packed red blood cells?
A. 5% dextrose in water
B. Lactated Ringer's solution
C. 0.9% sodium chloride
D. 5% dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride
Answer: 0.9% sodium chloride
,Rationale: Normal saline is compatible with blood products. Dextrose-containing
and calcium-containing solutions may cause red-cell hemolysis or clotting and
should not be used with blood products unless specifically approved by policy.
6. Which assessment is most important immediately before starting a blood
transfusion?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Baseline vital signs
C. Appetite
D. Visual acuity
Answer: Baseline vital signs
Rationale: Baseline temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen
saturation when appropriate provide comparison data if a transfusion reaction
occurs.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer packed red blood cells. Which IV catheter
is generally appropriate for routine adult transfusion?
A. A patent, appropriately sized peripheral IV catheter
B. A urinary catheter
C. A small-gauge needle used only for injections
D. An arterial catheter
Answer: A patent, appropriately sized peripheral IV catheter
Rationale: Blood products require reliable vascular access that can
accommodate the prescribed transfusion rate and facility requirements.
8. Which blood type is considered the universal red blood cell donor type in
emergency situations when the patient's blood type is unknown?
A. AB positive
B. A positive
C. B negative
D. O negative
, Answer: O negative
Rationale: O-negative red blood cells lack A, B, and Rh D antigens and are
commonly used when emergency transfusion is required before the patient's
type is known.
9. Which blood type is commonly referred to as the universal plasma donor?
A. O negative
B. AB
C. A
D. B
Answer: AB
Rationale: AB plasma does not contain anti-A or anti-B antibodies, making it
broadly compatible for plasma transfusion.
10.What is the primary purpose of crossmatching before a red blood cell
transfusion?
A. Determine the patient's platelet count
B. Measure serum sodium
C. Confirm compatibility between donor red cells and the recipient
D. Determine whether the patient has an infection
Answer: Confirm compatibility between donor red cells and the recipient
Rationale: Crossmatching tests donor red blood cells against recipient plasma to
help identify incompatibility and reduce the risk of hemolytic transfusion
reactions.
11.Which symptom is most concerning for an acute hemolytic transfusion
reaction?
A. Mild hunger
B. Flushing after several hours
C. Low back or flank pain
D. Increased appetite
Nursing 354 Blood Transfusion Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Before initiating a blood transfusion, which action is the nurse's priority?
A. Obtain the patient's temperature after the transfusion begins
B. Verify the blood product and patient identification according to facility policy
C. Administer an antipyretic medication
D. Encourage the patient to drink fluids
Answer: Verify the blood product and patient identification according to facility
policy
Rationale: Correct patient and blood-product identification is essential because
an identification error can result in an acute, potentially life-threatening
transfusion reaction.
2. Which blood product is primarily administered to increase oxygen-carrying
capacity?
A. Fresh frozen plasma
B. Platelets
C. Packed red blood cells
D. Cryoprecipitate
,Answer: Packed red blood cells
Rationale: Packed red blood cells increase hemoglobin and hematocrit and
improve the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.
3. Which blood component is most appropriate for a patient with
thrombocytopenia and active bleeding?
A. Platelets
B. Packed red blood cells
C. Fresh frozen plasma
D. Albumin
Answer: Platelets
Rationale: Platelet transfusion is used to increase platelet numbers in patients
with significant thrombocytopenia or platelet-related bleeding.
4. A patient receiving packed red blood cells develops chills, fever, and low
back pain. What should the nurse do first?
A. Slow the transfusion
B. Stop the transfusion
C. Administer acetaminophen
D. Continue monitoring
Answer: Stop the transfusion
Rationale: Fever, chills, and back pain may indicate an acute hemolytic reaction.
The transfusion should be stopped immediately and the patient's condition
assessed.
5. Which intravenous solution is compatible with packed red blood cells?
A. 5% dextrose in water
B. Lactated Ringer's solution
C. 0.9% sodium chloride
D. 5% dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride
Answer: 0.9% sodium chloride
,Rationale: Normal saline is compatible with blood products. Dextrose-containing
and calcium-containing solutions may cause red-cell hemolysis or clotting and
should not be used with blood products unless specifically approved by policy.
6. Which assessment is most important immediately before starting a blood
transfusion?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Baseline vital signs
C. Appetite
D. Visual acuity
Answer: Baseline vital signs
Rationale: Baseline temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen
saturation when appropriate provide comparison data if a transfusion reaction
occurs.
7. A nurse is preparing to administer packed red blood cells. Which IV catheter
is generally appropriate for routine adult transfusion?
A. A patent, appropriately sized peripheral IV catheter
B. A urinary catheter
C. A small-gauge needle used only for injections
D. An arterial catheter
Answer: A patent, appropriately sized peripheral IV catheter
Rationale: Blood products require reliable vascular access that can
accommodate the prescribed transfusion rate and facility requirements.
8. Which blood type is considered the universal red blood cell donor type in
emergency situations when the patient's blood type is unknown?
A. AB positive
B. A positive
C. B negative
D. O negative
, Answer: O negative
Rationale: O-negative red blood cells lack A, B, and Rh D antigens and are
commonly used when emergency transfusion is required before the patient's
type is known.
9. Which blood type is commonly referred to as the universal plasma donor?
A. O negative
B. AB
C. A
D. B
Answer: AB
Rationale: AB plasma does not contain anti-A or anti-B antibodies, making it
broadly compatible for plasma transfusion.
10.What is the primary purpose of crossmatching before a red blood cell
transfusion?
A. Determine the patient's platelet count
B. Measure serum sodium
C. Confirm compatibility between donor red cells and the recipient
D. Determine whether the patient has an infection
Answer: Confirm compatibility between donor red cells and the recipient
Rationale: Crossmatching tests donor red blood cells against recipient plasma to
help identify incompatibility and reduce the risk of hemolytic transfusion
reactions.
11.Which symptom is most concerning for an acute hemolytic transfusion
reaction?
A. Mild hunger
B. Flushing after several hours
C. Low back or flank pain
D. Increased appetite
