ATI Skills Module: Specimen Collection
Exam Questions With Correct Answers
An assistive personnel (AP) is collecting a 24-hour urine specimen from a patient. Which of the
following statements by the AP indicates that the specimen collection will have to be restarted? -
answer✔✔A: The patient just told me that he forgot to put the urine in the container.
R: If the patient urinates and discards the urine, the timing of the specimen must begin again with
the next urination.
A nurse is collecting a blood specimen for culture from a patient hospitalized for pneumonia.
During this procedure, the nurse should - answer✔✔A: Rub the patient's arm at the selected site
prior to venipuncture.
R: Stroking the arm from the distal area to the proximal area below the proposed site can help
dilate the vein, but vigorous rubbing should be avoided due to the potential for injury.
A nurse is teaching a patient about home collection of a stool specimen for fecal occult blood
testing. Which of the following instructions should the nurse provide? - answer✔✔A: Obtain
specimens from three different stools.
R: The three specimens must be taken from three separate, consecutive bowel movements.
A nurse caring for a group of patients in an ambulatory care clinic is collecting urine for several
prescribed diagnostic tests. For which of the following tests is a random sample voided into a
clean cup appropriate? - answer✔✔A: Routine urinalysis
R: Routine urinalysis can be done on a random clean voided specimen collected during normal
voiding into a clean urine cup.
A nurse is caring for a female patient who needs to collect a midstream urine specimen. Which
of the following actions should the nurse take? - answer✔✔A: Have the patient urinate a small
amount of urine before starting the collection.
R: Urinating a small amount before the collection helps clean the urethral meatus of any bacteria
that may be present.
A nurse is instructing the patient regarding collection of stool specimens for fecal occult blood
testing. Which of the following should the nurse instruct the patient to avoid a few days before
and during the testing period to reduce the risk of false-positive results? - answer✔✔A: Poulty