The nurse is caring for a patient who describes changes in his voiding patterns. The patient states, I feel the urge to empty my bladder several times an hour and when the urge hits me I have to get to the restroom quickly. But when I empty my bladder, there doesnt seem to be a great deal of urine flow. What would the nurse expect this patients physical assessment to reveal?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increased urinary urgency and frequency coupled with decreasing urine volumes strongly suggest urine retention. Hematuria may be an accompanying symptom, but is likely related to a urinary tract infection secondary to the retention of urine. Dehydration and renal failure both result in a decrease in urine output, but the patient with these conditions does not have normal urine production and decreased or minimal flow of urine to the bladder. The symptoms of urgency and frequency do not accompany renal failure and dehydration due to decreased urine production.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Describes Changes