steam inhalation and specimen collection

Steam Inhalati

on

DEFINITION

Steam inhalation is an effective treatment in respiratory conditions and is highly recommended for treatment of sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies and asthma.

1.Steam relieves inflammation and congestion of upper respiratory mucous membranes,

2.Relieves throat irritation by moistening the air,

DEFINITION

3.Relieves spasmodic breathing (asthma, croup), 4.Loosens secretions and stimulates discharge of

mucous from the throat and lungs (natural expectorant),

5.Relaxes muscles and relieves coughing 6.Keeps mucous membranes from excessive

drying.

Procedure

• Pour hot water into a bowl and 3 drops of the essential oil that you have selected, place your head about 12 inches (30 cm) above the bowl and cover your head with a towel in such a way that the sides are totally closed and you in actual fact form a tent over the bowl.

• Keep your eyes shut and breathe deeply through your nose for 1 to 2 minutes.

Procedure

• If you feel that the treatment is getting too much for you, raise the towel so that fresh air is brought into the area and breathe through your mouth a couple of times and then resume the treatment. Should you at any time feel uncomfortable discontinue the treatment.

• When using this treatment with children or elderly people make sure that they do not burn themselves by getting too close to the bowl, or that the steaming water is upset and burns result.

Specimen Collection

Supplies Needed

• Specimen container

• Tissue paper

• Cotton Pledget of wooden Spatula

Sputum Specimen CollectionSPUTUM – is the mucus secretion from the lungs,

bronchi and trachea

PURPOSE for collection• For culture and sensitivity – to identify a specific

microorganism and its drug sensitivities.

• For cytology – to identify the origin, structure, function and pathology of cells.

• For acid fast bacillus (AFB) – to identify presence of tuberculosis

• To assess effectiveness of therapy

Sputum Specimen Collection

Amount To Collect

• 5 ml (about 1 teaspoon) is the necessary amount for most tests on sputum. However, multiple tests are often ordered so more specimen may be necessary. Also some testing is best done on serial specimens, therefore, you may be asked to collect for 3 days in a row.


When To Collect

• It is best to collect sputum specimens the first thing in the morning when you get up. Collect specimens only at that time unless instructed to do otherwise by hospital personnel or your physician.


Collection Container• The sputum collection containers may be

obtained from the physician's office or from the laboratory. These are sterile and should be opened only when putting in specimen. After specimen is obtained replace the lid tightly on the cup and return to the laboratory within 2 hours.


Collection Container• If you are asked to collect sputum for

multiple days (i.e. 2 or 3), each day's specimen must be delivered to the laboratory within the 2 hour time frame.

Sputum Specimen CollectionHow To Collect• Gargle and rinse your mouth with water just

after you get up and before you collect the specimen. (This helps to eliminate accumulated cells arid normal bacteria that may interfere with your test results.)

Sputum Specimen CollectionHow To Collect• Inhale repeatedly to the full capacity of your

lungs and exhale the air with an explosive cough. This should produce mucus from the lungs that is to be expectorated into the container. The specimen MUST BE FROM THE LUNGS. "Spit" from the mouth is inadequate and will give incorrect results to your physician.

Sputum Specimen CollectionHow To Collect• Transport specimen within 2 hours to the lab

and give directly to lab personnel. When more than one specimen has been ordered, collect specimens on consecutive mornings. Transport each specimen as collected to the laboratory.

STOOL SPECIMEN COLLECTION

Purpose of the collection

•To determine presence of occult blood

•To analyze for dietary products and digestive secretions

•To detect presence of ova and parasites

•To detect presence of bacteria and viruses

STOOL SPECIMEN COLLECTION

•Collect specimen in a clean bed pan or use plastic wrap placed between the toilet seat and the bowl. Do not submit feces contaminated with urine or toilet water.

•Transfer specimen into a clean, dry container or the appropriate preservative.

•Transport at ambient temperature within two hours of collection.

URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTION

Clean Catch, Mid-Stream Urine collection:Females

• Remove appropriate garments for urination.

• Wash hands thoroughly.

• With one hand, separate the urinary opening and hold open until the process is complete.

• Using a saturated soapy sponge, wash from front to back three times using a different soap and pad each time.


Clean Catch, Mid-Stream Urine collection:Females

• Wash with warm sterile water to remove soap residue.

• The patient should void a few milliliters into the toilet and then collect urine in a sterile container. (Do not stop the flow of urine through this process.)

• Secure the lid on the container.

• The nurse will transfer the specimen for culture to the gray-topped vacutainer tube through needle apparatus on urine cup. Refer to package insert for further information/instruction.


Clean Catch, Mid-Stream Urine collection:Males

• Remove appropriate garments for urination

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

• Cleanse the penis, retract the foreskin (if not circumcised), and wash three times with a different soap pad each time.

• Wash with warm sterile water to remove the soap residue.


Clean Catch, Mid-Stream Urine collection:Males

• Keeping the foreskin retracted, allow a few milliliters of urine to pass and then collect urine in a sterile container. (Do not stop the flow of urine through this process.

• Secure the lid on the container.

• The nurse will transfer the specimen for culture to the gray-topped vacutainer tube through needle apparatus on urine cup. Refer to package insert for further information/instructions.

TYPES of URINE COLLECTION

Random Specimen This is the specimen most commonly sent to the laboratory for analysis, primarily because it is the easiest to obtain and is readily available. This specimen is usually submitted for urinalysis and microscopic analysis, although it is not the specimen of choice for either of these tests. Random specimens can sometimes give an inaccurate view of a patient's health if the specimen is too diluted and analyte values are artificially lowered.


Random Specimen Pediatric specimens, which routinely undergo chemistry and microscopic analysis, are generally of this type. As the name implies, the random specimen can be collected at any time. Although there are no specific guidelines for how the collection should be conducted, avoiding the introduction of contaminants into the specimen is recommended. This requires explicit instructions to patients so that they do not touch the inside of the cup or cup lid.


First Morning Specimen This is the specimen of choice for urinalysis and microscopic analysis, since the urine is generally more concentrated (due to the length of time the urine is allowed to remain in the bladder) and, therefore, contains relatively higher levels of cellular elements and analyzes such as protein, if present. Also called an 8-hour specimen, the first morning specimen is collected when the patient first wakes up in the morning, having emptied the bladder before going to sleep.


First Morning Specimen Since the urine can be collected over any eight-hour period, collection is practical for patients who have atypical work/sleep schedules. Proper collection practices and accurate recording of the collection time are important criteria of a first morning specimen. Note: Any urine that is voided from the bladder during the eight-hour collection period should be pooled and refrigerated, so that a true 8-hour specimen is obtained.


Midstream Clean Catch Specimen This is the preferred type of specimen for culture and sensitivity testing because of the reduced incidence of cellular and microbial contamination. Patients are required to first cleanse the urethral area with a castile soap towelette. The patient should then void the first portion of the urine stream into the toilet.


Midstream Clean Catch Specimen These first steps significantly reduce the opportunities for contaminants to enter into the urine stream. The urine midstream is then collected into a clean container (any excess urine should be voided into the toilet). This method of collection can be conducted at any time of day or night.

TYPES of URINE COLLECTIONTimed Collection Specimen

Among the most commonly performed tests requiring timed specimens are those measuring creatinine, urine urea nitrogen, glucose, sodium, potassium, or analytes such as catecholamines and 17-hydroxysteroids that are affected by diurnal variations.

TYPES of URINE COLLECTIONTimed Collection Specimen

A timed specimen is collected to measure the concentration of these substances in urine over a specified length of time, usually 8 or 24 hours. In this collection method, the bladder is emptied prior to beginning the timed collection. Then, for the duration of the designated time period, all urine is collected and pooled into a collection container, with the final collection taking place at the very end of that period. The specimen should be refrigerated during the collection period, unless otherwise requested by the physician. Accurate timing is critical to the calculations that are conducted to determine analyte concentrations and ratios. Interpretations based on faulty calculations can result in improper diagnoses or medical treatment.


Catheter Collection Specimen This assisted procedure is conducted when a patient is bedridden or cannot urinate independently. The healthcare provider inserts a foley catheter into the bladder through the urethra to collect the urine specimen. (Specimens may also be collected through an existing foley catheter.) Specimens may be collected directly from a foley into an evacuated tube or transferred from a syringe into a tube or cup.


Suprapubic Aspiration Specimen This method is used when a bedridden patient cannot be catheterized or a sterile specimen is required. The urine specimen is collected by needle aspiration through the abdominal wall into the bladder.


Pediatric Specimen For infants and small children, a special urine collection bag is adhered to the skin surrounding the urethral area. Once the collection is completed, the urine is poured into a collection cup or transferred directly into an evacuated tube with a transfer straw. Urine collected from a diaper is not recommended for laboratory testing since contamination from the diaper material may affect test results.

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steam inhalation and specimen collection