The nurse needs to draw blood via heel stick for a newborn screening examination.How can the nurse use understanding of the newborn's heat production physiology to promote blood collection?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Applying a warm pack to the heel before attempting to draw blood will promote vasodilation and blood flow to the area, making it easier to collect the sample. This is because newborns have limited ability to produce heat and maintain their body temperature, so their blood vessels can constrict in response to cold temperatures. Wrapping the baby in a blanket with a hat or elevating the head of the bassinet may help to maintain the baby's temperature, but will not necessarily promote blood collection. Placing the baby under a radiant warmer may actually cause the blood vessels to constrict further due to the heat source.

The Nurse Needs to Draw Blood Via Heel Stick for a Newborn