Deck 9: Specimen Collection

Question 1

The nurse is preparing a patient with peptic ulcer disease for discharge to home.What information does the nurse include in patient teaching about testing stool for occult blood?

A) Positive results indicate active bleeding.
B) It is necessary to eat poultry and fish before testing.
C) Each stool specimen provides one sample for testing.
D) Menstruation postpones the testing for occult blood.

Answer 1

Menstruation postpones the testing for occult blood.

Question 2

A nurse is orienting another nurse to the procedures for collecting blood samples.Which statement indicates that the orientee needs further education?

A) "The tourniquet is placed so it can be removed by pulling one end."
B) "A healthy vein is elastic and rebounds on palpation."
C) "The specimen is labeled with only the patient's name."
D) "I clean the area with antiseptic swabs first."

Answer 2

"The specimen is labeled with only the patient's name."

Question 3

The nurse is obtaining a sputum specimen from a patient without using suction.What should the nurse have the patient do to produce enough sputum for a sample?

A) Instruct the patient to obtain specimens over 4 hours.
B) Try to obtain a sample immediately after eating.
C) Rinse the mouth with water to loosen the mucus.
D) Take several deep breaths and forcefully cough into a sterile container.

Answer 3

Take several deep breaths and forcefully cough into a sterile container.

Question 4

While the nurse tries to obtain a sputum specimen from the patient who has pneumonia, the patient becomes short of breath, and the respiratory rate increases.Which intervention does the nurse implement next?

A) Completes the sputum collection quickly
B) Clears the patient's airway with suctioning
C) Provides prescribed supplemental oxygen
D) Instructs the patient to lie flat and breathe deeply

Question 5

During a home visit, the patient with diabetes mellitus tells the nurse that she is having a very difficult time obtaining blood for glucose monitoring.Which intervention does the nurse use to help the patient obtain a good blood sample?

A) Asks the health care provider to order a different monitoring device.
B) Instructs the patient to position the lancet on the side of finger or forearm.
C) Teaches the patient to find a good site and use it repeatedly.
D) Tells the patient to run warm water over the hand before testing.

Question 6

The patient accidentally discards voided urine during a 24-hour urine collection.What should the nurse do next?

A) Instruct the patient to call for help before voiding.
B) Consult with the laboratory for further instructions.
C) Discard all urine and begin another 24-hour collection.
D) State on the laboratory requisition that one specimen is missing.

Question 7

A patient in the doctor's office needs a throat culture.What should the nurse implement to obtain a proper sample?

A) Instruct the patient to lie flat and tilt head.
B) Ensure the patient has been NPO.
C) Avoid touching the swab to any inflamed areas.
D) Depress the anterior third of the tongue

Question 8

The nurse evaluates the venipuncture site before leaving the patient's room with the blood specimen.Which nursing observation is an unexpected outcome?

A) A dot of blood covers the venipuncture site.
B) Heart rate is stable and regular at 80 beats/min.
C) A soft subcutaneous lump appears at the venipuncture site.
D) The patient complains of stinging with removal of the needle.

Question 9

A patient is unable to void on demand for a clean-voided specimen.What is the appropriate action by the nurse?

A) Notify the provider that the patient has anuria.
B) Palpate the suprapubic area for retained urine.
C) Catheterize the patient to obtain the urine specimen.
D) Offer fluids, if allowed, and wait about 30 minutes.

Question 10

The nurse is preparing to obtain a blood specimen.Which is the most important intervention for the nurse to complete before obtaining a blood specimen?

A) Verify patient identification.
B) Perform patient skin preparation.
C) Ask the patient for an arm preference.
D) Tell the patient that the procedure is slightly painful.

Question 11

The nurse is obtaining a nasal culture using a commercially prepared culture tube.After placing the swab in the culture tube, what should the nurse do next?

A) Take the swab and mix it in reagent to check for color changes.
B) Place the swab into a culture tube and add a reagent to the tube.
C) Label the specimen and enclose it in a plastic biohazard bag.
D) Place the swab into the tube, close it securely, and keep it warm.

Question 12

The nurse is trying to obtain urine from a pediatric patient for a urine culture.What is the smallest amount of urine the nurse needs to obtain from a patient for a urine culture?

A) 3 mL
B) 5 mL
C) 10 mL
D) 20 mL

Question 13

A female patient needs to provide a midstream-voided urine specimen for examination.What teaching by the nurse would provide a valid specimen?

A) Use a clean specimen cup for testing.
B) Collect at least 125-150 mL of urine.
C) Wash the perineal area with soap and water.
D) Void some urine and then collect the sample.

Question 14

The nurse is teaching a patient about the proper procedure for testing stool for occult blood.The nurse's teaching has been effective if the patient makes which statement?

A) "I apply a very thick smear of stool onto the guaiac slide."
B) "The electronic meter calculates a reading within minutes."
C) "It is best if I get two separate samples from the same stool."
D) "I call my doctor for white paper with stool and developer on it."

Question 15

The patient has an indwelling urinary catheter.What step should the nurse take first to obtain a urine specimen from this patient?

A) Apply sterile gloves for the procedure.
B) Insert a small needle into the drainage tubing.
C) Clamp the drainage tubing for several minutes.
D) Disconnect the catheter and drain the urine into the cup.

Question 16

The nurse is monitoring the collection of a 24-hour urine specimen.What action by the nurse will yield the most accurate test results?

A) Keep the patient on the unit during the test.
B) Keep the urine in a collection bottle in a container of ice.
C) Save all urine from the time the test begins.
D) Leave the collection bottle in the patient's bathroom.

Question 17

The health care provider orders a urine test.Which is the most important information for the nurse to consider before collecting the urine specimen needed for the test?

A) That the specimen collection precedes antibiotic administration.
B) That the urine aspirated from the collection bag is suitable.
C) Whether the urine test requires sending a sterile specimen.
D) Whether the patient can provide peri-care properly.

Question 18

The nurse is teaching a NAP to test urine with a reagent strip for chemical properties.Which technique demonstrated by the NAP would indicate understanding of the process?

A) Immerse the reagent strip in urine for 1 minute.
B) Compare reagent strip to the color chart on the bottle.
C) Obtain the patient's first voided specimen in the morning.
D) Add a chemical tablet to the urine and then test with a reagent strip.

Question 19

The nurse obtains blood specimens in the clinic and prefers using an antecubital vein.Which characteristics of veins in this area justify the nurse's preference for the antecubital site?

A) It is easily accessed in the hand.
B) It causes less pain and bleeding.
C) It is large, straight, and close to the surface.
D) It is superficial and the most distal.

Question 20

The patient's blood glucose level was 134 mg/dL at 7 AM and is now 61 mg/dL at 3 PM.Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

A) Assess the patient for confirmatory findings.
B) Check calibration of the blood glucose meter.
C) Administer insulin according to a sliding scale.
D) Instruct the patient to have orange juice and crackers.

Question 21

A test for occult blood is to be done tomorrow.Patient teaching by the nurse has been appropriate if the patient chooses which menu for dinner tonight?

A) Hamburger, noodles, dinner roll with butter, broccoli
B) Beef stew, rice, garlic bread, applesauce
C) Macaroni and cheese, mixed vegetables, apple slices
D) Pork chop, mashed potatoes with gravy, peas, ice cream

Question 22

The nurse notices a change in wound drainage and gets an order for a culture.Nursing care is appropriate if which technique is used?

A) Obtain samples of both skin and wound exudate.
B) Rotate sterile swabs at a deep point in the wound.
C) Use older secretions for a more valid specimen.
D) Move the swabs back and forth across the wound.

Question 23

The nurse is reviewing the findings from a basic analysis of gastric secretions.What information would the nurse expect to find?

A) Negative occult blood
B) Black coloration of gastric secretions
C) Clumps or clots of blood
D) "Coffee-ground" secretions

Question 24

A newly diagnosed patient with diabetes is being taught the procedure for obtaining a blood glucose specimen.What information should the nurse include in patient teaching about the procedure for capillary puncture?

A) Puncture the center of the fingertip.
B) Allow the alcohol to dry completely.
C) Hold the finger upright for the puncture.
D) Squeeze the finger to increase blood flow.

Question 25

The nurse is preparing to obtain a blood specimen.Which step should the nurse implement when preparing for venipuncture?

A) Tie the tourniquet in a knot.
B) Use the tourniquet for at least 1 minute.
C) Place the tourniquet 5-10 cm (3-4 inches) above the selected site.
D) Apply the tourniquet tight enough to occlude distal pulses.

Question 26

The nurse is preparing to draw a blood sample.Which technique should the nurse implement when performing venipuncture?

A) Insert the needle, bevel up, at a 45-degree angle.
B) Select a vein that is rigid, cordlike, and prominent.
C) Insert the needle at once after scrubbing the skin with alcohol.
D) Pull the skin taut by placing the thumb about 2.5 cm (1 inch) below the site.