Practice Quiz

NCLEX-RN

Category - Reduction of Risk

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A female client with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis is asked to submit a specimen for sputum test. At 11:00 am, the nurse gave the client a sterile container for the sputum. After instructing the client on how to properly collect the specimen, the nurse begins to attend the other client. What nursing considerations should be observed when collecting sputum?
  1. Sputum must be submitted within 4-6 hours after expectoration.
  2. Sputum must be collected early in the morning.
  3. The mouth should not be rinsed prior to collecting the sputum.
  4. Avoid using nebulizers or other chemical agents when submitting a sputum specimen.
Explanation
Answer: B - A sputum specimen is collected early in the morning to properly diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis. The nurse should instruct the client to wash the mouth, take a deep breath, and then expectorate or cough into the cup. The specimen is not valid if the client spits because this contains saliva instead of phlegm. If the client can’t expectorate effectively, endotracheal aspiration or transtracheal aspiration may be done. The specimen shouldn’t be allowed to stand for several hours after collection since this can result in overgrowth of other microorganisms, contaminating the specimen.
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