Question

The nurse has a prescription to obtain a urinalysis specimen from a client with an indwelling urinary catheter. Which actions should the nurse include in performing this procedure?

1) Explaining the procedure to the client
2) Clamping the tubing of the drainage bag
3) Aspirating a sample from the port on the drainage tubing
4) Obtaining the specimen from the urinary drainage bag
5) Wiping the port with an alcohol swab before inserting the syringe

Answer 1

To collect a urinalysis specimen from a client with an indwelling urinary catheter, a nurse should explain the procedure, clamp the tubing, aspirate the sample from the drainage tubing port, use an alcohol swab to clean the port, and avoid taking the sample directly from the drainage bag.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse must obtain a urinalysis specimen from a client with an indwelling urinary catheter, several steps are involved to ensure the sample is collected properly and safely:

• Explaining the procedure to the client is essential for informed consent and cooperation.
• Clamping the tubing of the drainage bag prevents new urine from entering the bag and potentially contaminating the sample with old urine.
• Aspirating a sample from the port on the drainage tubing is necessary to obtain fresh urine directly from the bladder.
• A nurse should never obtain the specimen from the urinary drainage bag because it may be contaminated with older urine or bacteria.
• Wiping the port with an alcohol swab before inserting the syringe is critical to sterilize the area and prevent introduction of pathogens into the specimen or catheter system.

These steps help ensure that the urinalysis provides accurate information for diagnosis and treatment planning.