Which IV solution should a nurse use to prime the blood administration set for a unit of packed RBCs?

When preparing to administer a unit of packed red blood cells (RBCs), the recommended intravenous solution to use for priming the blood administration set is 0.9% sodium chloride. This isotonic saline solution is compatible with blood products and helps to maintain the osmotic balance within the patient's bloodstream.

Using 0.9% sodium chloride prevents hemolysis of the red blood cells, which could occur if an incompatible solution were used. It effectively prevents coagulation and ensures that the RBCs maintain their integrity during transfusion. The solution does not contain dextrose, which can lead to hemolysis when mixed with blood products, making it unsuitable for this purpose.

Other solutions like Lactated Ringer's are typically avoided due to the presence of components that could potentially interact negatively with blood products. Dextrose solutions may create an environment that is also unfavorable for blood cells, leading to adverse reactions. Thus, 0.9% sodium chloride stands out as the safe and appropriate choice for priming blood administration sets.