Question

A patient has had her indwelling urinary catheter removed after having it in place for 10 days during recovery from an acute illness. Two hours after removal of the catheter, the patient informs the nurse that she is experiencing urinary urgency resulting in several small-volume voids. What is the nurse's best response?

A) Inform the patient that urgency and occasional incontinence are expected for the first few weeks post-removal.
B) Obtain an order for a loop diuretic in order to enhance urine output and bladder function.
C) Inform the patient that this is not unexpected in the short term and scan the patient's bladder following each void.
D) Obtain an order to reinsert the patient's urinary catheter and attempt removal in 24 to 48 hours.

Answer 1

The nurse should inform the patient that experiencing urinary urgency and small-volume voids post-catheter removal is common, and bladder scanning after voiding should be used to monitor bladder function. Loop diuretics and re-catheterization are not the appropriate first steps.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's best response to a patient who is experiencing urinary urgency and several small-volume voids two hours after the removal of an indwelling urinary catheter is to inform the patient that this is not unexpected in the short term and to scan the patient's bladder following each void. This answer corresponds with option C from the choices provided. After having a catheter in place, it is common for patients to have symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence as the bladder and urethral sphincter need to readjust to normal function.

Options such as ordering a loop diuretic or reinserting the catheter may not be appropriate as initial interventions and could complicate the patient's recovery process. Instead, bladder scanning after voids can help assess residual urine volume and help in monitoring bladder function as the patient regains normal micturition reflex.