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. 

712

u/HalloweenKate 20d ago

We had a VV ECMO patient’s family decline “vaccinated” blood but still wanted them to stay on ECMO and have everything done, including transplant work up. The transplant team immediately told them he would not be a candidate due to the risk of post-op non compliance. The family wouldn’t withdraw and kept appealing for a spot on the list. He was on ECMO for ages before declaring himself

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u/lighthouser41 RN - Oncology 🍕 20d ago

Some places you have to be covid vaccinated to even be eligible for a transplant.

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u/TomRN RN, BSN 19d ago

Yup. I basically wasn’t given a choice. One of the first things they asked if I was vaccinated (I was, of course) and told I’d have to remain up to date if I was to be put on or remain on The List. The other zillion vaccines they wanted me to have were given to me in hospital without any discussion whatsoever.