A medical assistant is preparing a patient for a colonoscopy. Which of the following should the assistant obtain from the patient prior to the procedure?

A. Place a bandage on the site after holding pressure for 1 min: While a bandage may be used, holding pressure for 1 minute is excessive. Typically, pressure is held for a shorter period to control bleeding.
B. Apply direct, firm pressure to the puncture site on the finger: Applying firm pressure helps to stop bleeding after the puncture and is the appropriate technique.
C. Warm the site for a minimum of 10 min prior to puncture. Warming the site is usually done for a few minutes (not 10) to increase blood flow, but it should be done briefly and not excessively.
D. Have the parent hold the child during the procedure: While it’s important to ensure the child is held securely, the parent should assist by holding the child gently but not to the extent that it interferes with the procedure.

A. Perform a sterile hand scrub: While sterile technique is important in many procedures, a sterile hand scrub is not specifically necessary for suture removal.
B. Lift the knot toward the wound: Lifting the knot towards the wound helps to ease the removal of the suture by reducing tension on the skin, making the procedure easier and less painful.
C. Begin cutting the sutures in the middle of the wound: Sutures should be cut close to the skin, not in the middle, to ensure proper removal and avoid causing unnecessary trauma to the wound.
D. Clean the wound with a disinfectant: Cleaning the wound with a disinfectant is not necessary before suture removal and might irritate the wound. Instead, the area should be cleaned after suture removal if needed.