A primary care NP is preparing to irrigate and suture a laceration on a patient's thumb.To anesthetize the site,the NP should use:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vasoconstrictors,such as epinephrine,help to prolong local anesthetic action by decreasing systemic absorption,but they are not safe to use at the ends of arteries in fingers,toes,the nose,or the penis.Lidocaine is an intermediate-acting local anesthetic and,when used without epinephrine,is appropriate to use on a thumb.Bupivacaine is a very long-acting anesthetic and is not needed for a short procedure.

A Primary Care NP Is Preparing to Irrigate and Suture