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

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

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 18-6

Collecting a Sputum Specimen for Culture

Goal:The patient produces an adequate sample from the lungs. 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. Explain the procedure to the patient. If
   the patient might have pain with coughing, administer pain
   medication, if ordered. If the patient can perform the task
   without assistance after instruction, leave the container at
   bedside with instructions to call the nurse as soon as speci-
   men is produced.


4. Check specimen label with the patient’s identification
   bracelet. Label should include patient’s name and identifi-
   cation number, time specimen was collected, route of col-
   lection, identification of the person obtaining the sample,
   and any other information required by agency policy.


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


6. Put on disposable gloves and goggles.


7. Adjust the bed to a comfortable working height, usually
   elbow height of the caregiver (VISN 8 Patient Safety Cen-
   ter, 2009). Lower side rail closest to you. Place patient in
   semi-Fowler’s position. Have patient clear nose and throat
   and rinse mouth with water before beginning procedure.
   8.Instruct the patient to inhale deeply two or three times
   and cough with exhalation.If the patient has had abdomi-
   nal surgery, assist the patient to splint abdomen.


8. If the patient produces sputum, open the lid to the
   container and have the patient expectoratethe specimen
   into container.


9. If patient believes he or she can produce more of the speci-
   men, have the patient repeat the procedure.


10. Close lid to container. Offer oral hygiene to the patient.


11. Remove equipment and return the patient to a position of
    comfort. Raise side rail and lower bed.


12. Remove goggles and gloves. Perform hand hygiene.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice

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