A 70-year-old man arrives in the emergency department and says, "I haven't urinated in 24 hours. I feel like I have to go, but I can't." What care should the nurse anticipate providing first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first priority for a patient who has not urinated in 24 hours is to relieve the urinary obstruction. This can be achieved by inserting an indwelling catheter to drain the bladder. Emergency preparation for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as IVP or cystoscopy or administering IV fluids can be done after the urinary obstruction has been relieved.

A 70-Year-Old Man Arrives in the Emergency Department and Says