What type of transfusion reaction should the nurse suspect if a client receiving packed red blood cells develops fever, chills, and red-tinged urine?

When a client receiving packed red blood cells develops symptoms such as fever, chills, and red-tinged urine, the nurse should suspect a hemolytic transfusion reaction. This reaction occurs when the recipient's immune system attacks the transfused red blood cells, usually due to compatibility issues between the donor's and recipient's blood types.

The fever and chills are indicative of the body's response to the destruction of red blood cells, while the red-tinged urine signals the presence of hemoglobin released into the bloodstream as the cells break down. This process can lead to acute kidney injury as the kidneys attempt to filter the excess hemoglobin.

Other options may present with different symptoms that do not align with the combination of fever, chills, and red urine. For instance, febrile reactions typically present with fever and chills but usually do not involve hemolysis or red urine. Allergic reactions are often associated with hives or itching rather than systemic symptoms like fever. Acute pain may not be a recognized category of transfusion reactions and does not relate to the hematological symptoms evident in this scenario. Therefore, the clinical signs of fever, chills, and red-tinged urine strongly point to a hemolytic transfusion reaction as the most likely