Final answer:
The nurse should perform the fingerstick herself to ensure patient safety and accuracy of the procedure. Allowing an untrained individual to perform the fingerstick could lead to potential harm or inaccuracies. Proper training is essential, as echoed by the roles of diabetes educators and procedures for blood type testing.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the nursing assistant has not been officially trained to perform fingersticks, despite having done it a number of times, the nurse should not assume competency. The nurse has a professional and legal responsibility to ensure patient safety and that all procedures are performed by competent individuals. In this scenario, the nurse should perform the fingerstick herself (Option C), as this ensures the procedure is carried out correctly and safely. Leaving an untrained individual to perform the procedure, even if they have done it informally before, could lead to inaccuracies in the glucose reading or harm to the patient.
Diabetes patients are advised to test their glucose levels by the sides of their fingers to avoid stimulating pain receptors. Diabetes educators emphasize the importance of proper training in diabetes medications and monitoring devices, so the nurse should follow suit and not allow an untrained person to perform a fingerstick. In the case of a planned surgical procedure, the importance of correct procedures and labeling, such as during a blood draw for a blood type test, underlines the need for properly trained staff in patient care, further supporting the nurse's decision to take responsibility for the fingerstick.