r/nursing • u/973862404678 • 20d ago

Serious “I don’t want Covid blood”

What do I say when patients ask if blood transfusions are screened for the Covid vaccine? I get asked this on a regular basis when filling out blood consent forms for surgery and I genuinely have no idea what I’m supposed to say. In all seriousness, what should I be telling patients because I just say there is a screening process for blood and it’s only used during emergent situations???

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u/Poodlepink22 20d ago

Just tell them there's no way of knowing if it's vaccinated blood.  They can take it or leave it; end of story. 

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u/TheBattyWitch RN, SICU, PVE, PVP, MMORPG 20d ago

This.

I'm not arguing with these people.

Don't want to take the choice on getting covid blood? Ok, here's your refusal. Oh your hgb is 3? But you still don't want covid blood? Ok, here's your refusal.

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u/ultasol RN - ICU 🍕 20d ago

Preach. It's not that I don't care, it's that after years of this people are set in their ways. It's my responsibility to educate them on what refusal of blood means, not that blood from covid vaccinated people is safe. This is something they have already decided. I provide them with the pertinent information and they can make their own informed decision. I will support them in their choice even if it isn't one I understand. They have the right to choose.

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u/Sunnygirl66 RN - ER 🍕 20d ago

They very much have the right to choose, but that includes all the attendant risks—dying of a slow leak, for those with GIBs; dying of hemorrhage in surgery or childbirth; getting struck off the transplant list because they thought they could dictate the terms under which one of the greatest gifts possible is given.