A nurse is preparing to collect a throat culture for a middle-aged male patient.

Purpose of Throat Culture: A throat culture is performed to detect the presence of pathogens (like bacteria) that cause infections such as strep throat.

Correct Technique:

Uvula and Soft Palate: These are not the primary sites for collecting throat cultures.

Any site of Oral Cavity Mucosa: This is too broad and non-specific.

Tongue and Buccal Mucosa: These sites are not typically infected in throat infections and do not provide accurate culture results.

Oropharynx and Tonsillar Region: The mucosa of the oropharynx and tonsillar region is the most common site of infection in throat infections, making it the appropriate site for swabbing.

Procedure: The nurse should gently swab the oropharynx and tonsillar area, avoiding the tongue and other parts of the oral cavity to avoid contamination and ensure accurate results.

Conclusion: The correct site for collecting a throat culture is the mucosa of the oropharynx and tonsillar region, ensuring the detection of the causative pathogens.References: Clinical nursing skills textbooks, NCLEX-RN review guides, guidelines for throat culture collection.