Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. Equipment: 1. Stool specimen cup 2. Cover, or paper towel 3. Wooden tongue depressor 4. Lab slip Procedure: 1. Assemble equipment and explain procedure to patient/caregiver. 2. After patient has had a bowel movement in bedpan, take to bathroom. 3. Use tongue depressor as spoon and remove about one tablespoon. 4. Wrap tongue depressor in paper towel and dispose of it in trash. Note: Do not dispose of it in patient's room. 5. Label specimen immediately. 6. Cover cup and arrange to send to office to resend to lab. 7. Clean bedpan and return to proper area. 8. Wash hands. Sputum Specimen: Equipment: 1. Sputum container 2. Label 3. Lab slip Procedure: 1. Assemble equipment and explain procedure to patient. 2. Have patient rinse out his mouth. 3. Obtain specimen in early morning. 4. Hand container to patient and have him cough deeply. 5. Ask patient to expectorate into specimen container. 6. Cover tightly and label. 7. Send container to office to resend to lab. 8. Wash hands. Note: Sputum collection is sometimes done on a 24-hour basis, similar to urine collection. Home Health Agency Nursing Care & Procedures K-18