A nurse collaborates with assistive personnel (AP) to provide care for a client who is prescribed a 24-hour urine specimen collection. Which statement would the nurse include when teaching the AP about this activity?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Note the time of the client's first void and collect urine for 24 hours. This is correct because for a 24-hour urine specimen collection, it is essential to start by noting the exact time of the first void and then collect all subsequent urine voided over the next 24 hours, including the final void at the same time the collection started. This ensures accurate measurement of substances in the urine over a full 24-hour period.
Choice B is incorrect because the preservative should be added to the container at the beginning, not the end, to maintain the integrity of the specimen. Choice C is incorrect because the 24-hour collection starts with the first void, not the first morning urine. Choice D is incorrect as missing even one urine sample during the 24-hour collection can compromise the accuracy of the results.