RN Exam Practice
Reduction of Risk PotentialQuestion 116 of 2368

The nurse collects a sputum culture from a client. Which instruction is correct?

  1. Collect saliva in a clean cup after brushing the teeth.
  2. Swallow the first mucus and spit the second into the container.
  3. Cough deeply and spit the mucus into a sterile container.
  4. Breathe slowly and wait for mucus to drain into the container.
Show answer

Correct answer: Cough deeply and spit the mucus into a sterile container.

The client coughs deeply and spits mucus into a sterile specimen container so bacteria in sputum can be identified.

Source: Nursing Fundamentals, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2024), Oxygenation: DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND LAB WORK. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Reduction of Risk Potential"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026