Final answer:
Healthcare professionals should use their fingertips to gently palpate the area, which aligns with the instruction to 'press gently' and ensures patient comfort while assessing touch and pressure sensations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When instructed to "press gently when palpating the site", a healthcare professional should use their fingertips to gently feel the area without causing discomfort. This means that the correct answer is B) Use fingertips to gently feel the area without causing discomfort. Strong or firm pressure, as mentioned in the other options, is advised against as it can cause pain, potentially damage the tissue, and does not align with the instruction of gentle palpation. Moreover, palpation should be performed with care, as receptors such as Merkel's disks and Meissner's corpuscles can detect fine touch and pressure, and the level of pressure applied can make a significant difference in the patient's comfort and the healthcare professional's assessment of the tissue.