Chapter 08: Specimen Collection

Chapter 08: Specimen Collection

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The nurse obtains blood specimens in the clinic and prefers using an antecubital vein. Which characteristics of the regional vein 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 and close to the surface.
d.	It is superficial and the most distal.

 

 

ANS:  C

The nurse uses the regional vein in the antecubital area for blood draws because these veins are superficial, large, and well anchored; these characteristics increase the chances of a successful blood draw on the first puncture. The antecubital area does not include the hand. Except for punctures in the hand, venipunctures tend to cause the same degree of pain and bleeding, regardless of the location. The most distal veins in the arm are located in the hand, and these veins are reserved for intravenous (IV) fluids.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply                   REF:   Page 209

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

 

2. The healthcare 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

 

 

ANS:  C

The most important information for the nurse to know is whether the specimen needs to be sterile. If the test requires a sterile specimen, the nurse uses sterile technique to collect an uncontaminated specimen. If not, collecting the specimen with clean technique is adequate. The patient’s ability to cleanse the perineum, whether to use urine aspirate, and determining if specimen collection needs to precede the antibiotic are decisions answered by determining if the procedure needs to be sterile.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analyze                REF:   Page 182

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

 

3. 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.

 

 

ANS:  C

The 24-hour specimen is invalid, so the nurse starts a new collection and reinforces instructions to the patient. A new container is obtained, and the collection is restarted. The nurse cannot send the specimen to the laboratory missing one specimen because the urine sent does not contain all urine from the last 24 hours.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply                   REF:   Page 188

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Planning

 

4. 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.

 

 

ANS:  A

The nurse verifies patient identification before obtaining the blood specimen and uses at least two patient identifiers to ensure accurate identification because the nurse exposes the patient to potentially life-threatening complications by mislabeling a specimen. Skin preparation occurs only after the patient has been identified correctly. The remaining interventions are helpful, but only after the patient has been correctly identified.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analyze                REF:   Page 207

OBJ:   NCLEX: Physiological Integrity      TOP:   Nursing Process: Implementation