A Nurse Is Having Difficulty Performing Venipuncture to Obtain a Blood

Multiple Choice

A nurse is having difficulty performing venipuncture to obtain a blood specimen for serum electrolytes.When the laboratory results return, they show that the patient's potassium level is elevated.Which factors during the venipuncture procedure may have resulted in a false high for potassium? Select all that apply.

A) Cleansing the site with alcohol
B) Inverting the specimen tube gently
C) Prolonging the time the tourniquet is applied
D) Using the veins of the foot for venipuncture
E) Pumping the patient's hand vigorously