Question

The CPCT is to collect a 2-hour post-prandial (PP) Blood Glucose by dermal puncture. Upon entering the room, she sees the patient pushing away the over-bed table with the lunch tray still on it. Which of the following actions should the CPCT take?

A) Proceed with the blood draw, as the patient has finished eating
B) Ask the patient if they are ready for the blood draw
C) Inform the nurse and delay the blood draw until the patient is ready
D) Document the patient's refusal for the blood draw

Answer 1

The CPCT should inform the nurse and delay the 2-hour post-prandial Blood Glucose draw until the patient has finished their meal to ensure the accuracy of the test, which is critical for assessing a patient's glucose tolerance and management of diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) enters a patient's room to collect a 2-hour post-prandial (PP) Blood Glucose by dermal puncture and finds the patient has not yet finished their meal, the most appropriate course of action is C) Inform the nurse and delay the blood draw until the patient is ready. This ensures that the blood draw occurs at the correct time to get an accurate measure of the blood glucose level post-meal. The accuracy of this test is crucial for managing diabetes and assessing the patient's glucose tolerance. An incorrect time for the blood draw could lead to misinterpretation of the patient's glucose tolerance status.

During a glucose tolerance test, a patient's blood glucose levels are measured at specified intervals after ingestion of glucose. This is done to determine how quickly the glucose is cleared from the bloodstream, which helps diagnose conditions such as diabetes mellitus. For someone with diabetes, blood glucose levels will rise sharply after ingesting glucose and will not return to normal levels within the expected 2½ hours, signifying an intolerance to glucose and the presence of diabetes mellitus.