2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
A client asks the nurse if all donor blood products are cross-matched with the recipient to prevent a transfusion reaction. Which of the following always requires cross-matching?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Packed red blood cells (PRBCs) always require cross-matching to ensure compatibility between donor and recipient blood types, significantly reducing the risk of transfusion reactions. Platelets and plasma can often be administered without cross-matching, as they have a lower risk of causing reactions due to their smaller volume and the presence of universal donor types. Granulocytes, while less common, may also not require strict cross-matching. Thus, PRBCs are the only blood product that consistently necessitates this process for safe transfusion.