Question 12

Sputum specimen should be obtained.

A sputum specimen is a sample of mucus from the respiratory tract, typically collected for diagnostic purposes, such as identifying infections or other respiratory conditions.

A) sputum.

This option is correct as a sputum specimen is specifically the type of sample that a nurse would request for analysis of respiratory issues. It is essential for diagnosing diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

B) urine.

Urine is not the correct specimen in this scenario. While urine samples are used for various medical tests, they do not provide the necessary information regarding respiratory conditions, which is the focus of the nurse's request.

C) stool.

Stool samples are used to diagnose gastrointestinal issues and infections, making them irrelevant to the request for a sputum specimen. Thus, this option does not meet the requirement of the question.

D) blood.

Blood samples are typically used for a wide range of tests, but they are not suitable for respiratory analysis that sputum specimens provide. Therefore, this choice does not align with what is being asked.

Conclusion

The correct answer is A) sputum, as it directly addresses the need for a respiratory sample. Other options fail because they pertain to different bodily fluids and do not serve the purpose of diagnosing respiratory conditions, which is central to the nurse's request.