Hi Lori, Prof. Powell, and class,
Lori, I enjoyed reading the story about collecting urine samples upon admission. Colleting a urine sample to identify active urinary tract infection upon admission helps the facility provide a baseline for developing an appropriate plan of care. Also, knowing the existing infection not only clarifies which party is liable to the infection but also makes a diagnosis of the infection as a courtesy protocol. Elderly tend to have asymptomatic urinary tract infection, which can be easily overlooked. Some older patients may be labeled as altered mental status or symptomatic psychosis when the urinary tract infection is overlooked. Evidence-based practice is widely recognized as being relevant to the improvement of