A nurse at a long-term care facility is part of a risk management team that is creating a plan to lower infection rates in the facility. Which of the following instructions regarding hand hygiene should the nurse include?

A. Allow the antiseptic to dry before puncturing.: This is correct. It is important to allow the antiseptic (such as alcohol) to dry before puncturing the skin. If the antiseptic is not allowed to dry, it can cause hemolysis of the blood sample and lead to inaccurate glucose readings.

B. Apply sterile gloves.: This is incorrect. While gloves should be worn to maintain hygiene and safety, non-sterile gloves are sufficient for a capillary blood glucose test. Sterile gloves are not necessary unless the procedure requires aseptic technique.

C. Hold the lancet at a 45° angle.: This is incorrect. The lancet should be held at a 90° angle to the skin to ensure a proper and clean puncture.

D. Massage the client's finger away from the puncture site.: This is incorrect. The finger should not be massaged before or after the puncture site because it can cause tissue damage and lead to inaccurate blood samples due to the mixing of interstitial fluid with the blood sample.

A. Measure the client's abdominal girth daily is correct. Ascites is characterized by fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Measuring abdominal girth regularly is important for monitoring changes in the amount of fluid retention and for assessing the progression of ascites. It is a standard nursing intervention for clients with this condition.

B. Keep the client's daily protein intake below 0.8 g/kg is incorrect. Protein intake should not be restricted to this extent. In fact, adequate protein is important for liver health and to prevent muscle wasting in clients with cirrhosis, unless there are complications such as hepatic encephalopathy.

C. Restrict the client's sodium intake to 3 g per day is incorrect. Sodium intake is typically restricted more severely for clients with ascites. The general recommendation is often less than 2 g per day to help prevent fluid retention and reduce the burden on the heart and kidneys.

D. Position the client supine with legs elevated is incorrect. While elevating the legs can help reduce edema in the legs, positioning the client supine does not provide the same benefit for ascites. Side-lying with legs elevated or sitting with the legs elevated may be more beneficial.