After obtaining an arterial blood sample, what should you do?
1) Apply pressure to the puncture site until bleeding stops.
2) Place the sample in a transport container with ice slush.
3) Check to see if the patient is getting anticoagulant therapy.
4) Mix the sample by rolling and inverting the syringe.
A)1 and 2 only
B)1, 2, and 4 only
C)3 and 4 only
D)1, 2, 3, and 4

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1) Applying pressure to the puncture site until bleeding stops is essential to prevent excessive bleeding and hematoma formation. 2) Placing the sample in a transport container with ice slush is often recommended for certain analyses (like blood gases) to slow down metabolic processes that can alter the sample. 4) Mixing the sample by rolling and inverting the syringe is important to prevent clotting and ensure a homogeneous sample for analysis. Checking if the patient is getting anticoagulant therapy (3) is important before the procedure but does not directly relate to the handling of the sample after collection.

After Obtaining an Arterial Blood Sample, What Should You Do