Component Task: Collection of 24-Hours of Urine

It is the collection of samples of all urine voided by the patient in 24-hours. The nurse should explain the collection technique carefully to the patient. Other nursing staff should be aware that such a request is needed to avoid them from discarding patient/clients urine.

Aims

·         Diagnostic/Investigative purpose

·         Assess the effect of treatment regimen

Requirements

·         Laboratory form

·         Specimen container

·         Bedpan or urinal

·         Disposable gloves

·         Tissue

·         Ballpoint pen

·         Mackintosh and dressing towel

·         Series of specimen bottles

Steps

1.        Confirm physician/doctor’s request against the specimen form with patient’s name, date and content of urinalysis (manual or electronic)

2.      Establish rapport with patient (Refer to steps)

3.      Explain the procedure (Refer to steps)

4.      Assemble requirements

5.      Label the containers or bottles with the following information:

·         Name of patient

·         Ward

·         Specimen

·         Examination required

·         Time, date of commencement and completion of collection of specimen

6.      Choose a suitable time e.g. 9am to 9am the following day

7.       Review instructions with patient in the morning of commencement of collection

8.      Put labelled container in a suitable place near patient’s bed

9.      Ask patient to pass urine at the time collection begins and discard it

10.    Instruct patient to pass all subsequent urine into bedpan/urinal for the next 24 hours. This is poured into the labelled container

11.      Ask patient to pass urine at time the test ends and add this to collected urine

12.    Record total amount of urine collected on fluid chart and document in nurses’ notes (manual or electronic)

13.    Perform hand hygiene

14.    Dispatch specimen with appropriate laboratory form to laboratory