Saunders Respiratory Practice

Which nursing action is critical when obtaining a sputum specimen from a client?

1. Encourage fluid intake

2. Request a deep cough

3. Have the client take three deep breaths

4. Perform a physical assessment

The correct answer is: Have the client take three deep breaths

When obtaining a sputum specimen from a client, having the client take three deep breaths is critical because it helps facilitate the movement and expulsion of secretions from the lungs. Deep breathing increases lung volume and can mobilize mucus within the airways, which is essential for producing an adequate sputum sample. By encouraging deep breaths, the nurse helps ensure that the sputum collected is representative of the client's respiratory condition, providing more accurate and valuable diagnostic information. Encouraging fluid intake, while beneficial for hydration and thinning secretions, does not directly impact the immediate process of obtaining the sputum sample. Requesting a deep cough is also important, yet it primarily focuses on the act of sputum production instead of optimizing the ability to generate a productive cough. Performing a physical assessment, although an essential component of overall nursing care, does not play a direct role in the procedural aspect of obtaining a sputum specimen. Therefore, the action of having the client take three deep breaths stands out as the most critical step in this process.