Final answer:
Subtracting the irrigant from the output to determine actual urine volume is a key action by a nurse providing care for a client with continuous bladder irrigations, in addition to monitoring hourly urinary output for kidney function assessment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When providing care for a client with continuous bladder irrigations, the nurse would subtract the irrigant from the output to determine the actual urine volume. This action is critical in differentiating between the fluid that has been introduced as an irrigant and the urine that the kidneys have actually produced. This step is important for accurate documentation and monitoring of the patient's renal function, fluid balance, and response to the bladder irrigation.
Regularly recording the urinary output every hour is part of assessing the kidney function, ensuring that the kidneys are effectively excreting urine. Additionally, it may be useful in some cases to monitor urinary specific gravity, which can provide information on the client's state of hydration and kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. However, assessing urine concentration through a 24-hour urine specimen is more of a diagnostic procedure for evaluating kidney function in general and is not typically associated with bladder irrigation care itself.