Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 64%
Simulated
A client has been admitted with active rectal bleeding. He has been typed and cross-matched for 2 units of packed red blood cells (RBCs). Within 10 minutes of admission the client faints when getting up to go to the bedside commode. The nurse notifies the health care provider, who orders a unit of blood immediately. The nurse should expect which type of packed RBCs will be used for immediate transfusion?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
In an emergency situation requiring immediate transfusion, such as when a client with active bleeding faints, O negative blood is used because it is the universal donor type. O negative blood can be safely transfused to any patient regardless of their blood type, minimizing the risk of a transfusion reaction when there is no time for type and cross-match verification.