Introduction
Identifying alternate sampling techniques for collecting urine samples from older adults is a relevant issue in clinical practice. An in-and-out catheter is typically associated with urinary tract infections. Therefore, the question to consider in the discussion is the search for non-invasive, painless, and alternative techniques that do not increase the health risks for older adult patients.
Article Background
The article by Collins et al. (2020) titled “A revalidation and critique of assumptions about urinary sample collection methods, specimen quality and contamination” is chosen for the analysis. It allows hypothesizing that using alternative methods of collecting urine specimens is preferable to using the catheter due to the comparatively high risks of developing contamination.
Findings
The findings of the discussed article support the idea that alternative methods of collecting urine specimens show better results than using a catheter. The researchers state that with most of the epithelial cells originating from the urinary system, the physiological vacuum was the optimal place to collect bladder urine material (Collins et al., 2020). Urinary material was largely missed during catheter specimen urine sampling, which resulted in insufficient culture results. Lastly, little bladder material was captured by the midstream urine-collecting techniques (Collins et al., 2020). The authors discovered insufficient proof of infection using the alternative approaches, which justifies their use in clinical practice.
Application in Nursing Practice
The information from the article can be used in the nursing practice. For example, a nurse should prefer the alternative methods mentioned in the article to the use of a catheter. These approaches include the natural void and the use of the Peezy MSU device.
The most effective technique for collecting dropped white blood cells plus urothelial cells remained natural void (Collins et al., 2020). It offers a fuller sampling of the inflammatory fluid, which comprises the microbial substrate and parasitized urothelial cells. However, the midstream urine collecting equipment is useful when the midstream sample is considered significant (Collins et al., 2020).
The Peezy MSU device is the second alternative method that functions by having a sponge at the funnel’s outlet that gradually expands when it touches the first portion of the urine stream (Collins et al., 2020). Therefore, the method for collecting urine samples should depend on the clinical needs and the patient’s state. In all cases, the safety and the positive health outcomes for the patient should be the focus in finding the appropriate way of sampling.
Credibility
The discussed article is a credible, peer-reviewed text published in a scholarly magazine. The research is recent, which makes the results reliable and relevant. These details make the article by Collins et al. (2020) credible for use in clinical practice.
Limitations
Despite the credibility of the publication, the chosen article has certain limitations. For instance, it focuses primarily on the group of women, and the investigation does not feature information regarding the experiment’s results among males (Collins et al., 2020). Even though the recommendations regarding alternative sampling methods to avoid urinary tract infections have a universal character, specific distinctions regarding gender should also be addressed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the present investigation aimed to evaluate substrates and contamination for various methods of collecting urine samples. As already mentioned, the authors point out that epithelial cells may legitimately be present in the specimen, which spoils the testing results. The best urine sample for a urinalysis can be obtained from naturally voiding pee, the purest form of urinary particles. This information can be utilized in my nursing practice when choosing the optimal method of collecting urine samples and preferring alternative ways to use the catheter.
Reference
Collins, L., Sathiananthamoorthy, S., Rohn, J., & Malone-Lee, J. (2020). A revalidation and critique of assumptions about urinary sample collection methods, specimen quality and contamination. Int Urogynecol J 31, 1255–1262. Web.