Test Bank Q: Nursing Skills - Chapter 7
Specimen Collection Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
How should the nurse identify a patient before obtaining a
laboratory specimen?
a. Use at least two patient identifiers.
b. Look at the chart before entering the room.
c. Ask the patient his name.
d. Check the patient's armband twice. -
correct answer ✅ANS: A
Before obtaining a laboratory specimen, use at least two identifiers
such as checking the identification number on the admission
armband and asking the patient's name. Patients who are confused
or who have a language barrier may smile and not understand the
question. The patient could also have the wrong armband on;
checking it twice would not change that.
When discussing the collection of a clean-voided urine specimen, it
is important for the nurse to instruct the patient to:
a. use a clean specimen cup.
b. collect 100 to 150 mL of urine for testing.
c. void some urine first and then collect the sample.
,Test Bank Q: Nursing Skills - Chapter 7
Specimen Collection Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
d. wash the perineal area with soap and water immediately before
voiding. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
After the patient has initiated a urine stream, pass the urine
specimen container into the stream and collect 90 to 120 mL of
urine. A sterile specimen container is used. Pour antiseptic solution
over cotton balls. A cotton ball or gauze is used to cleanse the
perineum.
The nurse needs to obtain a sterile urine specimen for culture and
sensitivity (C&S) from a patient who has an indwelling catheter. The
catheter was placed the night before. What must the nurse do to
obtain the specimen?
a. Obtain the urine from the drainage bag.
b. Clamp the drainage tubing for 10 to 15 minutes.
c. Draw urine using a 20-mL syringe.
d. Insert the needle into the silicone catheter. -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
Clamp the drainage tubing with a clamp or rubber band for 30
minutes to permit collection of fresh, sterile urine in the catheter
tubing rather than draining into the bag. Do not collect a urine
specimen for culture tests from a urine drainage bag unless it is the
, Test Bank Q: Nursing Skills - Chapter 7
Specimen Collection Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
first urine to drain into a new sterile bag. Draw urine into a 3-mL
syringe (for culture), or draw urine into a 20-mL syringe (for routine
urinalysis). Proper volume is needed to perform the test. Do not
puncture Silastic, silicone, or plastic catheters. These are not self-
sealing.
What should the nurse do first if a patient is unable to void on
demand for a clean-voided specimen?
a. Perform Credé's procedure for the suprapubic area.
b. Catheterize the patient to obtain the specimen.
c. Offer fluids, if allowed, and wait about 30 minutes.
d. Notify the physician that the test cannot be completed. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
If the patient is unable to urinate on demand, offer fluids if
permitted. Allow more time for urine to accumulate in the bladder.
Try obtaining a specimen after 30 minutes. If the patient has no
urine in the bladder, Credé's would not be useful. The risk for
infection precludes the use of catheterization simply to obtain a
specimen. If the patient is unable to void after several hours, the
physician may need to be called to obtain an order for
catheterization.
Specimen Collection Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
How should the nurse identify a patient before obtaining a
laboratory specimen?
a. Use at least two patient identifiers.
b. Look at the chart before entering the room.
c. Ask the patient his name.
d. Check the patient's armband twice. -
correct answer ✅ANS: A
Before obtaining a laboratory specimen, use at least two identifiers
such as checking the identification number on the admission
armband and asking the patient's name. Patients who are confused
or who have a language barrier may smile and not understand the
question. The patient could also have the wrong armband on;
checking it twice would not change that.
When discussing the collection of a clean-voided urine specimen, it
is important for the nurse to instruct the patient to:
a. use a clean specimen cup.
b. collect 100 to 150 mL of urine for testing.
c. void some urine first and then collect the sample.
,Test Bank Q: Nursing Skills - Chapter 7
Specimen Collection Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
d. wash the perineal area with soap and water immediately before
voiding. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
After the patient has initiated a urine stream, pass the urine
specimen container into the stream and collect 90 to 120 mL of
urine. A sterile specimen container is used. Pour antiseptic solution
over cotton balls. A cotton ball or gauze is used to cleanse the
perineum.
The nurse needs to obtain a sterile urine specimen for culture and
sensitivity (C&S) from a patient who has an indwelling catheter. The
catheter was placed the night before. What must the nurse do to
obtain the specimen?
a. Obtain the urine from the drainage bag.
b. Clamp the drainage tubing for 10 to 15 minutes.
c. Draw urine using a 20-mL syringe.
d. Insert the needle into the silicone catheter. -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
Clamp the drainage tubing with a clamp or rubber band for 30
minutes to permit collection of fresh, sterile urine in the catheter
tubing rather than draining into the bag. Do not collect a urine
specimen for culture tests from a urine drainage bag unless it is the
, Test Bank Q: Nursing Skills - Chapter 7
Specimen Collection Exam Questions
and Answers (Latest Update 2026)
first urine to drain into a new sterile bag. Draw urine into a 3-mL
syringe (for culture), or draw urine into a 20-mL syringe (for routine
urinalysis). Proper volume is needed to perform the test. Do not
puncture Silastic, silicone, or plastic catheters. These are not self-
sealing.
What should the nurse do first if a patient is unable to void on
demand for a clean-voided specimen?
a. Perform Credé's procedure for the suprapubic area.
b. Catheterize the patient to obtain the specimen.
c. Offer fluids, if allowed, and wait about 30 minutes.
d. Notify the physician that the test cannot be completed. -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
If the patient is unable to urinate on demand, offer fluids if
permitted. Allow more time for urine to accumulate in the bladder.
Try obtaining a specimen after 30 minutes. If the patient has no
urine in the bladder, Credé's would not be useful. The risk for
infection precludes the use of catheterization simply to obtain a
specimen. If the patient is unable to void after several hours, the
physician may need to be called to obtain an order for
catheterization.
