A nurse is in the process of collecting a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity through straight catheterization.
Which step should the nurse take in this procedure?

The correct answer is Choice A: Don sterile gloves before inserting the indwelling urinary catheter.

Choice A rationale:

Donning sterile gloves is crucial to prevent infection during the insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter. Maintaining aseptic technique is essential to avoid introducing pathogens into the urinary tract.

Choice B rationale:

Applying an oil-based lubricant to the catheter is not recommended as it can interfere with the sterility of the procedure and potentially cause irritation or infection.

Choice C rationale:

Testing the balloon before insertion is important, but it is not the first step in the process. The priority is to ensure that the nurse is using sterile gloves to maintain aseptic technique.

Choice D rationale:

Using one cotton swab to clean the patient’s urinary meatus is not sufficient for proper aseptic technique. The area should be cleaned thoroughly with appropriate antiseptic solutions and sterile supplies.

Choice A rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for bacteria in the feces. This test is used to detect hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It is the most common type of fecal occult blood test (FOBT)1.

Choice B rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for fat in the feces. The presence of fat in the feces is usually checked by a different test called a fecal fat test. The stool guaiac test is specifically designed to detect the presence of hidden blood in the stool.

Choice C rationale:

The stool guaiac test does not check for parasites in the feces. Parasites are typically detected using a stool ova and parasites (O&P) test. The stool guaiac test is used to detect hidden blood in the stool, which could be an indication of various conditions, including colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum.

Choice D rationale:

The stool guaiac test checks for hidden blood in the feces. This is the correct answer. The test can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum, though not all cancers or polyps bleed. If blood is detected through a fecal occult blood test, additional tests may be needed to determine the source of the bleeding. The stool guaiac test can only detect the presence or absence of blood — it can’t determine what’s causing the bleeding.