A medical assistant notes the abbreviation "NS" next to several appointments from the previous day's office schedule. Which of the following is the correct description of this abbreviation?

A. Place a pulse oximeter on the patient's earlobe: A pulse oximeter measures oxygen saturation and pulse but is not used for manually palpating the pulse.
B. Palpate the patient's radial artery: The radial artery, located at the wrist, is commonly palpated to manually obtain the pulse.
C. Place a pulse oximeter on the patient's finger: A pulse oximeter measures pulse rate and oxygen saturation but does not involve manual palpation.
D. Palpate the patient's popliteal artery: The popliteal artery is located behind the knee and is less commonly used for routine pulse measurement compared to the radial artery.

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.