When obtaining a capillary blood sample for glucose measurement, which intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement?

A. Repeatedly using the same site can cause pain, scarring (calluses), and tissue damage, which may eventually make it harder to obtain an accurate sample. The nurse must assess previous sites to ensure rotation. The side of the finger (lateral aspect) is the preferred site because it has fewer nerve endings than the central fingertip and is highly vascular. B. Nail polish does not interfere with a capillary blood glucose reading, as the puncture is made into the skin of the fingertip, not through the nail bed. (Note: Nail polish does need to be removed for pulse oximetry if it interferes with the sensor). C. Apply a tourniquet above the antecubital fossa: Tourniquets are used for venipuncture, not for capillary fingerstick sampling. Applying one here is unnecessary and inappropriate for capillary blood collection. D. Grasp the subcutaneous tissue and pull upward: Proper technique involves gently massaging or warming the finger to increase blood flow, but pulling the tissue upward is unnecessary and may cause discomfort or inaccurate results.