Question

The nurse provides care to a client who is believed to have developed tuberculosis. The nurse implements which steps when collecting the client's sputum specimen? (Select all that apply.)

A) Use a suction catheter to obtain the specimen if needed.
B) Ask the client to spit into the sputum container.
C) Offer oral care before collecting the sputum specimen.
D) Send the specimen to the laboratory immediately.
E) Collect the specimen in the evening or before bedtime.

Answer 1

In response to the student's question, the correct steps for collecting a sputum specimen for tuberculosis testing are to have the client spit into a container, provide oral care before specimen collection, and send the sample to the laboratory immediately for prompt processing.

Step-by-step explanation:

When collecting a sputum specimen from a client suspected of having tuberculosis, the nurse should follow specific steps to ensure accurate results and to prevent the spread of infection. The steps include the following:

• Ask the client to spit into the sputum container.
• C) Offer oral care before collecting the sputum specimen to help clear the mouth of debris and food particles that could contaminate the sample.
• Send the specimen to the laboratory immediately to ensure that it is processed while still viable for testing and to avoid the degradation of the sample.

Using a suction catheter A) is not typically a first-line method for collecting a sputum sample but may be considered if the client is unable to expectorate on their own. Collecting the specimen in the evening or before bedtime E) is not standard practice for diagnosing tuberculosis; morning specimens are commonly preferred as they contain a higher concentration of bacteria after accumulating overnight in the lungs.