A female patient with a suspected urinary tract infection is to provide a clean-catch urine specimen for culture and sensitivity testing. What should the nurse do to obtain the specimen?

A. Asking the patient to empty the bladder completely and then collecting the next specimen is not specific enough for a clean-catch technique. This method does not reduce contamination from the urethral meatus or surrounding genital area. B. Using povidone iodine is not recommended for routine clean-catch urine collection because it can irritate the urethral area and does not offer additional benefit over standard cleansing with mild soap and water or antiseptic wipes. C. Cleaning the urethral area reduces contamination, and discarding the initial urine flushes out bacteria from the urethra. Collecting midstream urine ensures that the sample accurately reflects bladder contents for culture and sensitivity testing. D. Catheterization is an invasive procedure and is reserved for patients who cannot provide a clean-catch specimen. Routine midstream collection is preferred to reduce infection risk and discomfort while still providing an uncontaminated sample.