TAKE A URINE SAMPLE

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

2. Cleanse the urethra, the duct in which urine is expelled from the body, with a
disinfecting towellete.
3. Separate the folds of the female genitalia. Cleanse using the disinfecting towellette
with downward strokes.
4. Open the sterile canister in which urine will be stored. Be careful not to
contaminate the inside of the canister.
5. Begin urinating into the toilet. When half of the urine is expelled, bring the canister
to the urethra to fill the canister with urine. When the canister is full, expel the rest of
the urine into the toilet.
6. Screw on the cap to the canister. Be careful not to contaminate the cap.
7. Give the fully closed canister to the Medical Assistant. They will label the
specimen and take it to the laboratory.

TAKE VITAL SIGN

To take heart rate:

1.Wash your hands.

2.Make sure that individual is at rest before you begin.

3.The easiest place to find a pulse to measure is the radial artery found on the inside of the
wrist closest to the thumb. Alternatively, you can find the pulse on the inside of the elbow
(brachial artery), behind the knee (popliteal artery) or neck (carotid artery).

4.Use first and second fingertips (never the thumb) to press firmly but gently on the wrist (or
otherwise) until you feel a pulse.

5.With an analog clock or watch, wait until the second hand is on the 12.

6.Begin counting the beats of the pulse.

7.Count pulse for 60 seconds until the second-hand returns to the 12 (you may also count for
15 seconds and multiply by 4 to calculate beats per minute).

8.When counting, do not watch the clock continuously, but concentrate on the beats of the
pulse.

To take respiration rate:

1.Wash your hands.

2.Place your fingers on the individual’s wrist (either side).

3.Count breaths (inhale + exhale = 1 respiration) for one minute.

4.Document respiration rate, noting any observations (such as wheezing).

Factors like fever, agitation, illness, age, and even sleep can have an effect on breathing and
therefore the respiratory rate. Respiratory rate fluctuations are often seen as an early warning
sign for acutely-ill hospital patients, and it is closely monitored within acute care settings.

To take body temperature using a digital thermometer

1.Wash your hands.

2.Cover thermometer mouth tip with a clean plastic shield (or clean before and after use for
glass).

3.Press button to set the thermometer.

4.Place thermometer under tongue and instruct individual to close mouth.

5.Wait several minutes, remove thermometer when beeping indicates the reading is complete.

6.Document temperature, including the date, time and method used as follows: “O” for oral,
“R” for rectal, “E” for ear, “A” for axillary.

7.Clean and sterilize the thermometer.

To take blood pressure using a stethoscope, cuff and aneroid monitor:

1.Wash your hands.

2.Disinfect stethoscope earpieces and diaphragm (round disk).

3.Check to make sure that the blood pressure monitor is in good working order.

4.Place fingers on the underside of the elbow to locate pulse (called the brachial pulse).

5.Wrap and fasten deflated cuff snugly around the upper arm at least one inch above where
you felt the strong and steady brachial pulse.

6.Insert stethoscope earpieces and position diaphragm directly over the brachial pulse.

7.Turn the knob on the air pump clockwise to close the valve.

8.Pump air, inflating the arm cuff until the dial pointer reaches 170.

9.Gently turn the knob on the air pump counter-clockwise to open the valve and deflate the
cuff.

10.As the dial pointer falls, watch the number and listen for a thumping sound.
11.Note the number shown where the first thump is heard (systolic pressure).

12.Note the number shown where the last thump is heard (diastolic pressure).

13.Deflate and remove cuff.

14.Document the reading, written as systolic/diastolic, and note any unusual observations.