Final answer:
The nurse instructs the client to spit deeply into the collection cup in order to provide a sputum specimen for evaluation. By analyzing the sputum sample, healthcare providers can identify organisms or abnormalities that may indicate pneumonia or other respiratory infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse instructs the client to spit deeply into the collection cup in order to provide a sputum specimen for evaluation. Sputum is the thick mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract, containing secretions from the throat, bronchi, and lungs. By collecting a sputum sample, healthcare providers can analyze it under a microscope to identify organisms or abnormalities that may indicate pneumonia or other respiratory infections.