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Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

A Nursing Process Approach, 4th edition
Name ___________________________________________________ Date _____________________________
Unit ____________________________________________________ Position ___________________________
Instructor/Evaluator: ________________________________________ Position ___________________________

SKILL 18-5
Obtaining a Urine Specimen From an
Needs Practice

Indwelling Urinary Catheter

Satisfactory
Excellent

Goal: An adequate amount of urine is obtained from the patient

without contamination or adverse effect; the patient experiences
minimal anxiety during the collection process; and the patient
demonstrates an understanding of the reason for the specimen. Comments

1. Verify the order for a urine specimen collection in the medical

record. Gather equipment.
2. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.
3. Identify the patient.
4. Explain the procedure to the patient.
5. Check the specimen label with the patient’s identification
bracelet. Label should include the patient’s name and
identification number, time specimen was collected, route of
collection, identification of person obtaining the sample, and any
other information required by facility policy.
6. Assemble equipment on overbed table within reach.
7. Close curtains around the bed and close the door to the room, if
possible.
8. Put on nonsterile gloves.
9. Clamp the catheter drainage tubing or bend it back on itself
distal to the port. If an insufficient amount of urine is present in
the tubing, allow the tubing to remain clamped up to 30 minutes,
to collect a sufficient amount of urine, unless contraindicated.
Remove lid from specimen container, keeping the inside of the
container and lid free from contamination.
10. Cleanse aspiration port vigorously with alcohol or other
disinfectant wipe and allow port to air dry.
11. Attach the syringe to the needleless port or insert the needle or
blunt-tipped cannula into the port. Slowly aspirate enough urine
for specimen (usually 10 mL is adequate; check facility
requirements). Remove the syringe from the port. Engage the
needle guard, if needle was used. Unclamp the drainage
tubing.
12. If a needle or blunt-tipped cannula was used on the syringe,
remove from the syringe before emptying the urine from the
syringe into the specimen cup. Place the needle into a sharps
collection container. Slowly inject urine into the specimen
container. Take care to avoid touching the syringe tip to any
surface. Do not touch the edge or inside of the collection
container.

Copyright © 2015 by Wolters Kluwer. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical

Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach, 4th edition, by Pamela Lynn.
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Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
A Nursing Process Approach, 4th edition
Name ___________________________________________________ Date _____________________________
Unit ____________________________________________________ Position ___________________________
Instructor/Evaluator: ________________________________________ Position ___________________________

SKILL 18-5
Needs Practice

Obtaining a Urine Specimen From an

Satisfactory

Indwelling Urinary Catheter (Continued)

Excellent

Comments

13. Replace lid on container. If necessary, transfer the specimen to

appropriate containers/tubes for specific test ordered, according
to facility policy. Dispose of syringe in a sharps collection
container.
14. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
15. Place label on the container per facility policy. Note specimen
collection method, according to facility policy. Place container in
plastic sealable biohazard bag.
16. Remove other PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.
17. Transport the specimen to the laboratory as soon as possible. If
unable to take the specimen to the laboratory immediately,
refrigerate it.

Copyright © 2015 by Wolters Kluwer. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical

Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach, 4th edition, by Pamela Lynn.