PERFORMING A TWO-MINUTE HANDWASH

a. Purposes. (1) Prevent nosocomial infection. (2) Maintain safe, clean environment for patients. (3) Provide safety for health care workers. (4) Prevent cross-contamination of patients or the spread of microorganisms. b. Scope of Responsibility. Teaching patients and visitors about procedures and appropriate times for handwashing is an important role for the health care provider. This enables the patient and family to inhibit the...

COLLECTING SPUTUM

a. General. Sputum is mucus from the lung. A sputum specimen must come from deep in the bronchial tree. Expectoration from throat and mouth secretions cannot be used as a sputum specimen. Early morning is the best time to collect a sputum specimen because the patient has not yet cleared the respiratory passages. Many tests can be performed on sputum, such as a culture and sensitivity, cytological examination, and test for acid-fast bacillus....

DETERMINING PRESENCE OF OCCULT BLOOD IN STOOL

a. General. The presence of blood in body waste is abnormal. Blood in the stool may be bright red, which indicates that the blood is fresh and that the site of bleeding is in the lower gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, black-tarry-feces means the presence of old blood and that the site of bleeding is higher in the gastrointestinal tract. When blood is present in the stool but cannot be seen without the use of a microscope,...

COLLECTING A TWENTY-FOUR HOUR URINE SPECIMEN

a. General. Some tests require that the entire volume of urine from a 24-hour period be collected. The procedure for ensuring that the test can be performed accurately should be followed carefully. b. Important Points. Use strict sterile technique to prevent infection in the urinary system. Insert the catheter gently to prevent pain or discomfort, as catheterization should not be painful. Teach the patient to relax by deep breathing...

COLLECTING A MIDSTREAM URINE SPECIMEN

a. General. A midstream specimen is a voided specimen collected under conditions of thorough cleanliness after approximately the first 30 ml of urine has been voided. The advantage of collecting a voided specimen in this manner is that if organisms appear in the urine, they are mostly from structures such as the bladder or kidneys rather than just surface contamination. Cleansing removes organisms from the urinary meatus. Voiding moves...

COLLECTING A STERILE URINE SPECIMEN

var infolinks_pid = 2595788; var infolinks_wsid = 0; a. General. A sterile urine specimen can be obtained either by inserting a straight catheter into the urinary bladder and removing urine or by obtaining a specimen from the port of an indwelling catheter using sterile technique. Urine from the dependent drainage bag should not be used for a specimen, since it is not fresh and would not reflect accurate test results. Residual...

MAKING THE PATIENT OCCUPIED BED

a. General. Changing bed linen and making a comfortable, neat bed while it is occupied by a patient usually follows the completion of a cleansing bath. During this time, excellent opportunities are provided to establish good relations with the patient through patient-centered conversation and for instructing the patient how to move, turn, conserve energy, and maintain good body alignment. If the patient is helpless or unconscious,...