What action should the nurse take first when collecting a urine sample from an older adult?</n>

• A. Collect 1 or 2 ounces of urine.
• B. Wipe the genital area clean.
• C. Dry any excess urine from the outer specimen cup.
• D. Hold the cup a few inches from the urethra.

Answer: (B)

Cleaning the genital area before collecting the sample is essential to prevent contamination and ensure accurate test results. In an older adult, skin and surrounding moisture can introduce bacteria or other material into the specimen, which can skew results. By wiping the area clean first (using front-to-back for females and cleansing the tip for males), the nurse establishes a clean starting point for a proper midstream collection. After cleansing, follow the lab’s instructions for the amount to collect and the technique, but the first and most important step is to reduce contaminants at the source. The other steps described are parts of the collection process but do not address contamination prevention as the initial action.