to aid in the diagnosis of disease

to assist in the monitoring of disease and treatment

to assist in the assessment of the health of an individual

to exclude pathology.

1. Clean, dry container for the urine sample

2. Bottle of reagent strips (Multistix SG8 and Multistix SG10 are the most commonly used reagent strips; Wilson 2005)

3. Jug for volume measurement

4. Bedpan or urinal

5. Watch with a second hand

6. Trolley, tray or adequate surface for equipment

7. Receptacle for soiled disposable items

8. Disposable gloves.

explain the nursing practice to the patient and obtain consent and co-operation to inform the patient about the practice and ensure that he or she is aware of a person’s rights as a patient

awareness of different cultural attitudes towards handling and collecting body fluids and sensitivity to patients’ individual needs is essential (Solomon 2004)

wash the hands to reduce cross-infection and contamination by the nurse’s and patient’s hands (Swales 2003, Jeanes 2005)

testing urine does not require an aseptic technique, however it is essential that all equipment should be clean or disposable, and all precautions should be taken to prevent cross-infection

nurses should wash their hands before commencing and on completing this nursing practice (Swales 2003, Jeanes 2005)

instruct or assist the patient to collect urine in the clean, dry container the next time that he or she empties the bladder as this will ensure that the urine specimen is fresh and uncontaminated before testing

provide privacy and give an adequate explanation of the practice, this will be conducive to an uncomplicated collection of the specimen (Bardsley 2003)

collect and prepare the equipment to ensure that the equipment is available and ready for use

apply gloves to protect the nurse’s hands from contamination by body fluids

measure the volume of urine if the patient has a fluid balance chart as this will ensure accurate fluid balance monitoring

observe and note any sediment present in the urine as this may indicate an abnormality of the patient’s renal tract

observe and note the colour of the urine as an unusual colour of the urine may indicate an abnormality

note any smell as this may suggest an infection: infected urine has a foul, fishy odour