Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

369

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 18-1

Testing Stool for Occult Blood

Goal:An uncontaminated stool sample is obtained, following

collection guidelines, and then transported to the laboratory

within the recommended time frame, without adverse effect. Comments

1. Bring necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed
   table.


2. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.


3. Identify the patient. Discuss with the patient the need for a
   stool sample. Explain to the patient the process by which
   the stool will be collected, either from a bedpan, commode,
   or plastic receptacle in the toilet.


4. If sending the specimen to the laboratory, check specimen
   label with patient identification bracelet. Label should
   include patient’s name and identification number, time spec-
   imen was collected, route of collection, identification of the
   person obtaining the sample, and any other information
   required by agency policy.


5. Close curtains around bed or close the door to the room, if
   possible.


6. Place the plastic collection receptacle in the toilet, if applica-
   ble. Assist the patient to the bathroom or onto the bedside
   commode, or assist the patient onto the bedpan. Instruct the
   patient not to urinate or discard toilet paper with the stool.


7. After the patient defecates, assist the patient out of the
   bathroom, off the commode, or remove the bedpan.
   Perform hand hygiene and put on disposable gloves.
   8.With wooden applicator, apply a small amount of stool
   from the center of the bowel movement onto one window
   of the Hemoccult testing card. With opposite end of
   wooden applicator, obtain another sample of stool from
   another area and apply a small amount of stool onto
   second window of Hemoccult card.


8. Close flap over stool samples.


9. If sending to the laboratory, label the specimen card per
   facility policy. Place in a sealable plastic biohazard bag and
   send to the laboratory immediately.

Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

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