The process of collecting skin cultures involves several steps: 1. Preparation: The nurse should wash their hands and wear gloves to maintain sterility. 2. Cleaning the Area: The affected area is typically cleaned with sterile saline or alcohol to remove surface contaminants. 3. Sample Collection: Using a sterile swab, the nurse collects the sample from the infected area. If the infection is deep, a biopsy may be necessary. 4. Labeling: The sample is placed in a sterile container, labeled with patient information, and sent to the laboratory for analysis.
