A nurse is preparing to collect a sterile urine specimen for a culture and sensitivity test from a client who has a closed indwelling urinary catheter system. In which order should the nurse perform the following actions to reduce the risk of infection and ensure an accurate diagnostic sample? Arrange the steps from first to last.
- 1Clamp the drainage tubing just below the sampling port for a brief period.
- 2Cleanse the needleless sampling port with an appropriate antiseptic swab.
- 3Attach a sterile syringe to the sampling port and aspirate the required volume of urine.
- 4Transfer the aspirated urine from the syringe into a sterile specimen container.
- 5Unclamp the catheter drainage tubing to allow continuous urine flow.
Answer
The correct sequence is to first clamp the tubing to collect fresh urine, cleanse the port to maintain sterility, aspirate the urine with a sterile syringe, transfer the sample into a sterile container, and finally unclamp the tubing to restore urinary flow.
Obtaining a sterile urine specimen from an indwelling catheter requires strict adherence to sequence to ensure diagnostic accuracy and client safety. The nurse must first clamp the tubing to gather fresh urine. Next, the port must be cleansed to maintain strict asepsis before accessing it. Once disinfected, the urine is aspirated with a sterile syringe and placed securely in a sterile cup. Finally, the paramount safety step is unclamping the tubing to prevent bladder distension and subsequent kidney injury or infection.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Reduction of Risk Potential: Diagnostic Test Preparation and Infection Control