CHAPTER XIII. 



THE TECHNIQUE OF PREPARATIONS FOR AND THE 

 COLLECTION OF MATERIAL FOR BACTERIO- 

 LOGICAL EXAMINATION. 



IT is not strictly a part of the nurse's work to 

 collect specimens for bacteriological examination, but 

 sometimes the occasion arises when the nurse can 

 render valuable assistance by knowing how to do these 

 things. On the other hand the preparation of the 

 patient for bacteriological procedures, such as punc- 

 tures for aspirating fluids and the making of cultures 

 from the circulating blood, is quite properly within the 

 duties of the nurse. The directions that follow will 

 serve as a guide, but may need to be modified or 

 changed according to the ideas of the physician in 

 attendance. 



THE COLLECTION OF URINE. 



T iecti C on" A sterile test-tube plugged with cotton is used to 



f mens 1 " collect the urine, and the urine must be obtained by 

 catheter. The usual technique is followed in preparing 

 the patient, the catheter introduced, and the first part 

 of the urine allowed to escape. The cotton plug is 

 now twisted out of the tube, the mouth of the tube 

 passed through the flame of an alcohol lamp, and the 

 urine allowed to fill the tube one<-half or three-fourths 

 full. The stopper is then replaced and the tube kept 

 in the upright position. 

 (130) 



