What IV solution should the nurse use when priming blood tubing for a transfusion?

When priming blood tubing for a transfusion, it is essential to use an intravenous solution that maintains red blood cell viability and avoids potential reactions. 0.9% sodium chloride, also known as normal saline, is the appropriate choice for this purpose.

Normal saline is isotonic and closely resembles the body’s plasma. It serves to dilute the blood products and ensure that they infuse smoothly through the tubing without causing hemolysis or other adverse reactions. Maintaining an isotonic environment is critical, as solutions that are hypertonic or hypotonic could disrupt the osmotic balance, leading to complications.

The other solutions listed are not suitable for priming blood tubing. For example, 5% dextrose in water is a hypertonic solution and can cause the red blood cells to lyse, leading to hemolysis during the transfusion process. Similarly, 0.45% sodium chloride is hypotonic, which can also lead to osmotic imbalance and harm the integrity of the blood cells. Lactated Ringer's contains electrolytes and is not specifically indicated for blood transfusions, as it may interact negatively with the components of the blood product.

Overall, using 0.9% sodium chloride ensures that the blood transfusion is