Final answer:
The nurse should irrigate the catheter with normal saline to remove clots and ensure effective urinary drainage after TURP. Anticoagulants are not indicated and could lead to complications. The healthcare provider should also be notified for further instructions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A client with a postoperative status following a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) presenting with clots in the indwelling urinary catheter and decreased urinary output requires immediate intervention to prevent obstruction and potential complications. The most appropriate action for the nurse to take in this situation is to irrigate the catheter with normal saline. This procedure is typically performed to remove or prevent blockages in the catheter, ensuring continuous and effective urinary drainage, a critical aspect of post-TURP care. Administering an anticoagulant is not indicated in this context as it does not directly address the problem of the clots in the catheter and could potentially lead to bleeding complications. Encouraging increased fluid intake may be helpful in some cases, but it would not be the primary action to take when clots are already present. Lastly, notifying the healthcare provider is an essential step after the immediate measures are taken to ensure further evaluation and guidance from the provider.