SPECIMEN COLLECTION ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2025 WITH COMPLETE EXPLANATIONS.
After bacteria are cultured from a midstream urine specimen, what is accomplished by sensitivity testing?
THE ANSWER: - Determines which antibiotic agent is most effective in killing the bacteria
EXPLANATION: Sensitivity testing of a bacterial culture determines which antibiotic the bacteria are most
vulnerable (sensitive) to and therefore which agent is likely to be the most effective in killing them.
What can the nurse do to help ensure an accurate result when collecting a midstream urine sample for a
patient who is menstruating?
THE ANSWER: - Make a note on the lab slip that the patient is menstruating.
EXPLANATION: The nurse would make a note on the lab slip that the patient is menstruating, to alert the lab
to the possible source of any blood detected in the specimen.
Which statement might the nurse make to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) assigned to collect a midstream
urine specimen from a patient with signs of a urinary tract infection?
THE ANSWER: - "Be sure to maintain aseptic technique."
EXPLANATION: The nurse would show the NAP how to keep the container sterile.
Which statement might the nurse make to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) in order to help ensure reliable
results of culture and sensitivity testing of a midstream urine specimen?
THE ANSWER: - "Please get the specimen to the lab within 20 minutes."
EXPLANATION: The nurse is likely to give this instruction to the NAP, because the specimen must be
delivered to the lab within 20 minutes of collection. Doing so ensures that the reliability of the specimen is
not compromised.
What is the most important action the nurse can take to ensure that a midstream urine specimen does not
become contaminated?
THE ANSWER: - Ensure that the patient's perineum has been cleansed before the specimen is obtained.
EXPLANATION: Cleansing the perineum before obtaining the midstream urine specimen helps ensure that
the specimen does not become contaminated during collection.
What is the initial step in preparing a fecal occult blood test?
THE ANSWER: - Determine the patient's ability to help obtain a sample.
EXPLANATION: Completing this action will determine the extent of the nurse's involvement in collecting the
required sample.
The nurse has delegated to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) the task of performing fecal occult blood tests
on the stool of a patient with a history of positive results. Which instruction is most relevant to performing
this test in this particular patient?
THE ANSWER: - "Save the stool sample so that I can retest it if it is positive." EXPLANATION: The nurse is
likely to give NAP this instruction, because any sample from which NAP obtains a positive result must be
retested.
Which instruction to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) is most relevant to the proper performance of a fecal
occult blood test using a Hem occult slide?
THE ANSWER: - "Remember to take samples from two different areas of the specimen."
EXPLANATION: This is the most relevant instruction, because stool samples must be taken from two
different areas and placed on the slide.
ANSWERS 2025 WITH COMPLETE EXPLANATIONS.
After bacteria are cultured from a midstream urine specimen, what is accomplished by sensitivity testing?
THE ANSWER: - Determines which antibiotic agent is most effective in killing the bacteria
EXPLANATION: Sensitivity testing of a bacterial culture determines which antibiotic the bacteria are most
vulnerable (sensitive) to and therefore which agent is likely to be the most effective in killing them.
What can the nurse do to help ensure an accurate result when collecting a midstream urine sample for a
patient who is menstruating?
THE ANSWER: - Make a note on the lab slip that the patient is menstruating.
EXPLANATION: The nurse would make a note on the lab slip that the patient is menstruating, to alert the lab
to the possible source of any blood detected in the specimen.
Which statement might the nurse make to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) assigned to collect a midstream
urine specimen from a patient with signs of a urinary tract infection?
THE ANSWER: - "Be sure to maintain aseptic technique."
EXPLANATION: The nurse would show the NAP how to keep the container sterile.
Which statement might the nurse make to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) in order to help ensure reliable
results of culture and sensitivity testing of a midstream urine specimen?
THE ANSWER: - "Please get the specimen to the lab within 20 minutes."
EXPLANATION: The nurse is likely to give this instruction to the NAP, because the specimen must be
delivered to the lab within 20 minutes of collection. Doing so ensures that the reliability of the specimen is
not compromised.
What is the most important action the nurse can take to ensure that a midstream urine specimen does not
become contaminated?
THE ANSWER: - Ensure that the patient's perineum has been cleansed before the specimen is obtained.
EXPLANATION: Cleansing the perineum before obtaining the midstream urine specimen helps ensure that
the specimen does not become contaminated during collection.
What is the initial step in preparing a fecal occult blood test?
THE ANSWER: - Determine the patient's ability to help obtain a sample.
EXPLANATION: Completing this action will determine the extent of the nurse's involvement in collecting the
required sample.
The nurse has delegated to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) the task of performing fecal occult blood tests
on the stool of a patient with a history of positive results. Which instruction is most relevant to performing
this test in this particular patient?
THE ANSWER: - "Save the stool sample so that I can retest it if it is positive." EXPLANATION: The nurse is
likely to give NAP this instruction, because any sample from which NAP obtains a positive result must be
retested.
Which instruction to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) is most relevant to the proper performance of a fecal
occult blood test using a Hem occult slide?
THE ANSWER: - "Remember to take samples from two different areas of the specimen."
EXPLANATION: This is the most relevant instruction, because stool samples must be taken from two
different areas and placed on the slide.
