The nurse is assisting a client in obtaining a sputum specimen.After a deep cough,the client produces approximately 1/2 tsp of sputum.Which is the nurse's next action?
A)Assist the client to cough again and produce more sputum.
B)Send the specimen to the lab.
C)Allow the client to rest for one hour and then ask the client to cough again.
D)Ask the client to walk around for 30 minutes and try again to produce sputum.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For a sputum specimen to be adequate for analysis, it typically needs to be at least 1 to 2 teaspoons in volume. If the client produces less than this amount, the nurse should encourage the client to cough again to produce a sufficient sample for accurate testing.

The Nurse Is Assisting a Client in Obtaining a Sputum