A medical assistant is performing a capillary puncture. Which of the following steps should the assistant take to promote blood flow?
A. Keep the patient's hand above their head.
B. Milk the patient's finger.
C. Keep the patient's hand below heart level.
D. Have the patient run cool water on their fingers.
Answer (2)
To promote blood flow during a capillary puncture, the assistant should keep the patient's hand below heart level. This position helps gravity aid in blood circulation to the fingers. Other methods, like milking the finger or using cool water, can impair the procedure's effectiveness. ;
To promote blood flow during a capillary puncture, the assistant should keep the patient's hand below heart level, as gravity helps draw blood to the fingertips. Other methods, like milking the finger, may contaminate the sample, while keeping the hand above heart level would reduce blood flow. Thus, the correct choice is to keep the hand below heart level.
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