Question

After a medical assistant (MA) has applied a tourniquet, inserted the needle to perform venipuncture, and begun filling the first tube with blood, a patient says that he fears that he is about to faint. The MA observes the patient has become very pale, and there is sweat on his forehead. What should the MA do first?

a) Remove the tourniquet
b) Continue with the procedure
c) Offer the patient water
d) Call for assistance

Answer 1

The MA should remove the tourniquet first to alleviate the patient's symptoms of feeling faint, pallor, and sweating.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this situation, the medical assistant (MA) should first remove the tourniquet (option a).

If the patient is feeling faint and showing signs of pallor and sweating, it indicates that they are experiencing vasovagal syncope, which is a common reaction to medical procedures.

Removing the tourniquet and allowing blood flow to resume will help alleviate the patient's symptoms and prevent them from fainting.