While performing a blood culture venipuncture, a medical assistant cleanses a patient's skin with isopropyl alcohol. Which of the following actions is the next step?
Cleanse the site with chlorhexidine.
Prepare a wet mount slide.
Confirm the patient's blood type.
Obtain the patient's temperature.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Cleanse the site with chlorhexidine. After cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, the site should be cleansed with chlorhexidine to ensure the skin is sterile, reducing the risk of contamination in the blood culture.
B. Prepare a wet mount slide. Preparing a wet mount slide is unrelated to blood culture venipuncture and would not be the next step in this procedure.
C. Confirm the patient’s blood type. Confirming blood type is not part of the blood culture process and is not relevant at this stage.
D. Obtain the patient’s temperature. While monitoring the patient’s temperature might be necessary for diagnostic purposes, it is not the next step in performing a blood culture venipuncture.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Wipe away the first five drops of blood after puncturing: Only the first drop of blood should be wiped away to remove any tissue fluid, not the first five drops.
B. Apply even pressure to the finger during the collection: Applying even pressure helps to promote blood flow without causing hemolysis or excessive squeezing, which could affect test results.
C. Puncture the index finger at the tip: The recommended site for a capillary puncture is the side of the middle or ring finger, not the tip of the index finger.
D. Puncture parallel to the fingerprint: The puncture should be made perpendicular to the fingerprint ridges to ensure an adequate blood flow and reduce the risk of blood running along the ridges.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Place a bandage on the site after holding pressure for 1 min: While a bandage may be used, holding pressure for 1 minute is excessive. Typically, pressure is held for a shorter period to control bleeding.
B. Apply direct, firm pressure to the puncture site on the finger: Applying firm pressure helps to stop bleeding after the puncture and is the appropriate technique.
C. Warm the site for a minimum of 10 min prior to puncture. Warming the site is usually done for a few minutes (not 10) to increase blood flow, but it should be done briefly and not excessively.
D. Have the parent hold the child during the procedure: While it’s important to ensure the child is held securely, the parent should assist by holding the child gently but not to the extent that it interferes with the procedure.