A nurse is performing bedside glucose monitoring for a client with diabetes mellitus. Which action should the nurse take to ensure accurate test results?
Apply pressure to the finger for 10 seconds to improve blood flow
Squeeze the finger after pricking to increase the blood sample
Use an alcohol swab before pricking the finger to prevent infection
Ensure the client's finger is clean and dry before obtaining the blood sample
The correct answer is to ensure that the client’s finger is clean and dry before obtaining the blood sample. Residual substances like dirt, lotion, or food on the skin can interfere with the accuracy of a glucose reading. Using alcohol without letting it dry completely can also dilute the blood sample, yielding inaccurate results. It is unnecessary to apply excessive pressure to the site, as this can cause tissue fluid contamination. Similarly, squeezing the finger excessively can skew results by mixing blood with interstitial fluid.
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NCLEX RN
Physiological Integrity
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