The nurse must do a heel stick on an ill neonate to obtain a blood sample. What action is recommended to facilitate blood flow?

A) Apply cool, moist compresses.
B) Apply a tourniquet to the ankle.
C) Elevate the foot for 5 minutes.
D) Wrap the foot in a warm washcloth.

Before the blood sample is taken, the heel is heated with warm moist compresses for 5 to 10 minutes to dilate the blood vessels in the area. Cooling causes vasoconstriction, making blood collection more difficult. A tourniquet is used to constrict superficial veins. It will have an insignificant effect on capillaries. Elevating the foot will decrease the blood in the foot available for collection.