A nurse is reinforcing teaching about home care with the parents of a child who has a seizure disorder.

Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Answer: D

Rationale:

A) Collect 2 mL of sputum in an emesis basin: Collecting sputum in an emesis basin is inappropriate for laboratory testing. The sputum should be collected directly into a sterile container to prevent contamination. This ensures that the culture and sensitivity results are accurate and reflect the client's true respiratory pathogens.

B) Instruct the client to rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash prior to specimen collection: Using an antiseptic mouthwash before collecting a sputum sample is not recommended because it may alter the flora present in the sputum, leading to inaccurate culture results. Instead, the client should rinse their mouth with plain water to clear excess saliva or food debris.

C) Swab the oropharynx with a sterile swab: Swabbing the oropharynx does not obtain sputum from the lungs but instead gathers a sample from the throat, which may not be reflective of lower respiratory infections. A proper sputum sample is produced through a deep cough to collect material directly from the lungs.

D) Refrigerate the specimen until the time of transport to the laboratory: Refrigerating the sputum specimen helps to preserve its integrity by preventing the overgrowth of bacteria or other pathogens until it can be transported to the laboratory. Proper refrigeration ensures that the culture and sensitivity results remain accurate.

A newly licensed nurse who is having difficulty finishing client care tasks during their shift should try to complete one task before moving on to the next. This can help the nurse stay focused and organized, and prevent them from becoming overwhelmed.

The other options are not recommended for time management.

a) Delegating complicated tasks to an RNmay not be appropriate or allowed, depending on the task and the nurse's scope of practice.

b) Documenting all client care at the end of the shiftcan lead to errors and omissions.

c) Performing quick tasks before time-consuming tasks may not be the most efficient use of time, as it can lead to unfinished tasks at the end of the shift.