A nurse is preparing to apply personal protective equipment before caring for a client who requires isolation precautions. Identify the sequence in which the nurse should perform the following steps. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in the order of performance. Use all the steps.) (ORDERED RESPONSE)

A. Prick the side of the client's finger: Pricking the side (lateral aspect) of the fingertip reduces discomfort and provides good blood flow compared to the center of the finger, making it the preferred site for capillary blood sampling.

B. Squeeze the client’s finger until a blood drop forms: Squeezing or "milking" the finger vigorously after the prick can cause hemolysis (rupture of red blood cells) and dilute the specimen with interstitial fluid. This can lead to inaccurate results.

C. Elevate the client’s hand above the level of the heart: Elevating the hand above heart level can reduce blood flow to the finger, making it harder to obtain an adequate sample. The hand should be positioned at or slightly below heart level.

D. Apply clean gloves: Wearing clean gloves protects both the client and nurse from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and maintains infection control standards.

E. Cleanse the client’s finger with an iodine swab: Iodine is not typically used for capillary puncture site cleansing due to potential skin irritation and interference with some tests. An alcohol swab is preferred for cleaning before puncture.

A. "He is allergic to sulfa." Communicating a client’s allergies during transfer is critical to ensure patient safety and prevent adverse reactions. This information directly impacts medication administration and care planning on the receiving unit, making it essential to include in the transfer report.

B. "His partner has been visiting." While family involvement can be helpful, details about visitors are generally less urgent and not typically necessary in a transfer report unless they directly affect the client’s care or safety.

C. "He appears anxious about the transfer." Emotional status is important but is secondary to clinical information. If anxiety significantly affects the client’s care or safety, it might be mentioned, but it is not a priority in a transfer report focused on immediate clinical needs.

D. "He is voiding adequately." Although voiding status is relevant to some clients’ care, it is less critical than allergy information unless the client has a specific condition affecting urinary function that requires close monitoring. The allergy detail remains a higher priority in transfer communication.