What is the first step a nurse should take when preparing a client for a 24-hour urine collection?

The first step a nurse should take when preparing a client for a 24-hour urine collection is to discard the first voiding when beginning the test. This is crucial because the 24-hour urine collection is designed to measure the total amount of a substance excreted in urine over a full day. Discarding the first void ensures that the measurement starts only after the test has officially begun, avoiding potential contamination from urine that was produced prior to the collection period.

This approach allows for a more accurate representation of kidney function and metabolic processes, as the first urine of the day may not reflect the physiological state intended to be measured. Therefore, correct preparation is imperative for obtaining reliable results and may affect the interpretation of the findings. Other actions, like the timing of fluid intake or specific meal considerations, are important but do not address the critical need to establish an accurate baseline for the collection.