What is the role of the nurse when a urine specimen is collected?

What is the role of the nurse when a urine specimen is collected?

• A. Notify the lab
• B. Notify the patient
• C. Process the specimen
• D. Discard the specimen

Answer: (A)

The role of the nurse when a urine specimen is collected includes notifying the lab so that the specimen is processed in a timely manner. This is crucial because laboratory testing often has specific timelines to ensure the accuracy and reliability of results. By promptly notifying the lab, the nurse facilitates the proper handling and analysis of the specimen, which can directly impact patient care. Ensuring that the specimen reaches the lab quickly is an essential component of the nursing responsibilities surrounding specimen collection, as delayed processing can lead to changes in the sample that may affect test results. This oversight supports effective diagnosis and treatment decisions. In contrast, the other options do not encompass the primary responsibility of the nurse in this context. While informing the patient and processing the specimen are important aspects of care, they do not specifically pertain to the immediate post-collection actions that ensure the specimen is handled correctly and reaches lab personnel promptly. Disposing of the specimen would not align with the role of the nurse in providing accurate lab results for patient care.

The role of the nurse when a urine specimen is collected includes notifying the lab so that the specimen is processed in a timely manner. This is crucial because laboratory testing often has specific timelines to ensure the accuracy and reliability of results. By promptly notifying the lab, the nurse facilitates the proper handling and analysis of the specimen, which can directly impact patient care.

Ensuring that the specimen reaches the lab quickly is an essential component of the nursing responsibilities surrounding specimen collection, as delayed processing can lead to changes in the sample that may affect test results. This oversight supports effective diagnosis and treatment decisions.

In contrast, the other options do not encompass the primary responsibility of the nurse in this context. While informing the patient and processing the specimen are important aspects of care, they do not specifically pertain to the immediate post-collection actions that ensure the specimen is handled correctly and reaches lab personnel promptly. Disposing of the specimen would not align with the role of the nurse in providing accurate lab results for patient care.