A nursing instructor is demonstrating how to perform a heel stick on a newborn.To obtain an accurate capillary hematocrit reading,the nursing instructor tells the students to:

Question

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Warming the heel prior to obtaining blood will increase blood flow and make it easier to obtain an accurate capillary hematocrit reading. Using a previous puncture site may not produce enough blood for a reading and could cause infection. Cooling the heel could cause vasoconstriction and make it more difficult to obtain enough blood. Using a sterile needle and aspirating is not necessary for a heel stick, as capillary blood can be obtained with a lancet.

A Nursing Instructor Is Demonstrating How to Perform a Heel