Final answer:
Pressure should be applied to a puncture site until bleeding stops and a clot forms for proper wound healing. Monitoring is essential to prevent infection and ensure the hemostasis process is occurring effectively, including the crucial step of platelet plug formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the needle is removed, pressure should be applied to the site of the puncture until the bleeding has stopped and a clot forms. This period allows for the initial stage of wound-healing, which is the formation of a blood clot to stop bleeding. Following the clot formation, the body's response includes inflammation to start repairing the tissue. This inflammation is characterized by increased redness, swelling, and pain, which should be monitored as potential signs of infection. It is crucial because platelets converge and stick together to form a platelet plug, initiating a positive feedback mechanism where more platelets are attracted to form a fibrin clot. If the platelet plug breaks away before the wound is fully healed, it could result in hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding, due to the failure of the hemostasis process, which includes vascular spasm, platelet plug formation, and coagulation.