The Nurse Is Obtaining a Sputum Specimen from a Patient

The nurse is obtaining a sputum specimen from a patient without using suction.What should the nurse have the patient do to produce enough sputum for a sample?

A) Instruct the patient to obtain specimens over 4 hours.
B) Try to obtain a sample immediately after eating.
C) Rinse the mouth with water to loosen the mucus.
D) Take several deep breaths and forcefully cough into a sterile container.