A nurse is preparing a sterile field to perform a dressing change of a client's leg wound. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

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. Holding the irrigation solution bottle 5 cm (2 in) above the sterile container is incorrect because the solution should be poured into a sterile container without contaminating the sterile field. The nurse should pour the solution from a height that avoids splashing and contamination.

B. Opening the outer wrapper of the sterile package toward her body is incorrect. The outer wrapper of a sterile package should be opened away from the body to avoid contamination of the sterile field.

C. Placing the irrigation solution bottle cap on the sterile field is incorrect. The cap should not be placed on the sterile field, as it may introduce contaminants.

D. Placing sterile objects at least 2.5 cm (1 in) from the edge of the sterile field is correct. This practice maintains the sterility of the field by preventing contamination from external sources.