A practical nurse is initiating a 24-hour urine collection for a client on the medical-surgical unit to evaluate kidney function. In what chronological order should the nurse implement the steps for this diagnostic procedure? (Arrange from first to last)
- 1Instruct the client to empty their bladder completely and flush this initial urine down the toilet.
- 2Document the exact time of the discarded void as the official start of the 24-hour collection period.
- 3Save all subsequent voided urine over the next 24 hours in the designated container kept on ice.
- 4Request the client to void one final time exactly 24 hours after the start time and add it to the container.
- 5Ensure the completed collection container is accurately labeled and promptly transported to the laboratory.
Answer
The correct sequence is to first discard the initial void, document the start time, collect all subsequent urine on ice for 24 hours, obtain a final void at the exactly 24-hour mark, and then transport the labeled container to the laboratory.
A 24-hour urine collection must measure only the urine produced within a strict 24-hour window. Therefore, the procedure begins by starting with an empty bladder (discarding the first void) and documenting that exact time. Over the next 24 hours, all subsequent urine must be collected and kept cold to preserve the specimen. At exactly 24 hours from the start time, the client voids one last time to empty the bladder of any urine produced during the final moments of the period. Finally, the complete and correctly labeled specimen is transported to the laboratory for analysis.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
24-Hour Urine Specimen Collection Protocol