Urine Collection – Nursing is a profession within the healthcare sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other healthcare providers by their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice. Nurses practice in many specialisms with differing levels of prescriber authority.
Many nurses provide care within the ordering scope of physicians, and this traditional role has shaped the public image of nurses as care providers. However, nurses are permitted by most jurisdictions to practice independently in a variety of settings depending on training level. In the postwar period, nurse education has undergone a process of diversification towards advanced and specialized credentials, and many of the traditional regulations and provider roles are changing.
Nurses develop a plan of care, working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, the patient’s family, and other team members, that focus on treating illness to improve quality of life. Nurses may help coordinate the patient care performed by other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team such as therapists, medical practitioners, and dietitians. Nurses provide care both interdependently, for example, with physicians, and independently as nursing professionals.
Urine Collection
Definition of Urine:
Urine is the liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that normally has an amber color. The average amount of urine excreted in 24 hours is between 5 to 8 cups or 40 and 60 ounces.
Or,
The fluid secretion from the body by the kidneys stored in the bladder and discharges usually voluntarily through the urethra.
Physical Characteristics of Normal Urine:
Appearance – Straw or yellow amber
Smell– Paint aromatic.
Volume – 800-2500 ml.
Specific gravity – 1015-1030.
Osmolality – 800-120 mosm/L
PH – 4.5-8.0 (average 6.0)
Procedure of Urine Collection for Routine Examination:
A. Equipment:
1. Clean, wide mouthed container.
2. Laboratory requisition form.
3. Bed pan or urinal.
4. Soap and water.
5. Appropriate laboratory form.
6. Gloves.
B. Procedure:
1. Check the physician order and nursing care plan.
2. Identify the patient.
3. Explain procedure to the patient with specific instructions about washing the genital area (skin around the urethra meatus) with soap and water and give the labeled container. Instruct patient not wet the label on the outside.
4. Ask the patient to direct the first and last part of the urine stream into a urinal or toilet and to collect the middle part of the stream into the special container.
5. Have the patient place the specimen container in proper / designated place.
6. With gloved hand place the specimen container in polythene bag.
7. Send specimen to the laboratory with completed, signed laboratory form.
8. Remove gloves and wash hands.
9. Record the procedure in the nurse’s notes and other appropriate forms.
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