A finger stick seems like a pretty simple procedure, but every nurse should know these tricks.
Ideally, you should try to use the 3rd or 4th fingers on the patient’s non-dominant hand.
Don’t go directly in the center of the finger or on the tip. Aim instead for the side just off of the center of the finger. When choosing the finger, take care to avoid any that are swollen, have a rash, or visible scarring.
Warm up the finger with a gentle massage and squeeze gently to release the blood drops. Don’t squeeze the finger tightly with pressure. Once you’ve got the sample, clean the spot with alcohol and apply light pressure with a gauze.
