Bedside procedures

How to collect a sputum sample

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

Nursing (NCLEX)
Practice it in VR with Blocky

Saliva is not sputum. A deep cough in the morning gives the best sample.

Step by step

  1. Timing

    Early morning, before eating. [1]

  2. Rinse

    Water only, no mouthwash. [1]

  3. Protection

    Mask, and an airborne room if TB is suspected. [2]

  4. Deep cough

    Several deep breaths, then a strong cough from the chest. [1]

  5. Collect

    Spit into the sterile cup without touching inside. [1]

  6. Label and send

    Promptly. [3]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

43 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
  2. CDC, Guideline for Isolation Precautions (2007) and PPE sequence
  3. The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals
  4. OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (CC BY 4.0)

Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) and OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills, licensed under CC BY 4.0. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.