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Since James has a productive cough, the healthcare provider requests that a sputum specimen be obtained and sent to the lab for culture and sensitivity. When assisting James in obtaining a sputum specimen, which action should the nurse take?

a) Instruct James to cough deeply from the chest and spit into the specimen cup.

b) Gently wipe a sterile, cotton-tipped applicator along the back of the oropharynx.

c) Insert a soft-tipped catheter through the nares to suction secretions.

d) Use a hard-tipped Yankauer catheter device to remove oral secretions.

Answer :

Final answer:

The nurse should instruct James to cough deeply from the chest and spit the resulting secretions into a specimen cup to properly collect a sputum specimen for laboratory analysis. Therefore, the correct option is a) Instruct James to cough deeply from the chest and spit into the specimen cup.

Explanation:

When assisting James in obtaining a sputum specimen, the nurse should take action (a) Instruct James to cough deeply from the chest and spit into the specimen cup. This method ensures that the sputum, and not saliva, is collected for analysis. Sputum specimens are crucial for identifying organisms that may be causing respiratory infections and to determine the most effective antibiotics for treatment. A deep cough from the chest brings up the sputum from the lower respiratory tract, where infectious agents are likely to reside.

Actions like using a cotton-tipped applicator for throat swabs, suctioning with a soft-tipped catheter, or using a Yankauer catheter are not appropriate for the collection of a sputum sample, as they do not effectively retrieve the deep secretions required for a microbial culture and sensitivity analysis from the lower respiratory tract. Following the correct procedure ensures the sample is adequate for helping the healthcare provider diagnose and treat the respiratory condition accurately.

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