What should a nurse monitor after administering a blood transfusion?

Monitoring for fever, chills, and any transfusion reaction symptoms after administering a blood transfusion is crucial for ensuring patient safety. Blood transfusions can occasionally lead to adverse reactions, such as febrile non-hemolytic reactions, allergic reactions, or even more serious hemolytic reactions. Signs and symptoms such as fever, chills, hives, or respiratory distress may indicate an adverse response to the transfused blood.

It's essential for nurses to assess patients during and after a transfusion to catch any potential reactions early. This monitoring typically occurs within the first few hours post-transfusion, as most reactions develop during this time. By closely observing for these symptoms, nurses can promptly intervene if a transfusion reaction occurs, improving patient outcomes and minimizing complications.

Other monitoring aspects, like vital signs, are certainly important but are part of a broader assessment that includes looking for specific symptoms of transfusion reactions. The other answer choices do not address the critical need for monitoring potential transfusion reactions, which is why they are less appropriate than the chosen response.