Question

A nurse is caring for a critically ill patient with a urinary retention catheter. Which hourly urine output should FIRST alert the nurse that the primary health-care provider should be notified?

1. 20mL
2. 30mL
3. 80mL
4. 120mL

Answer 1

The nurse should first alert the healthcare provider if the hourly urine output is less than 30 mL, indicating oliguria. This condition suggests the patient may be at risk for serious health issues due to inadequate removal of metabolic wastes.

Step-by-step explanation:

When caring for a critically ill patient with a urinary retention catheter, the hourly urine output that should first alert the nurse to notify the primary health-care provider is less than 30 mL per hour. This condition, known as oliguria, indicates significantly reduced urine output and can be a sign of potential kidney dysfunction or other serious conditions necessitating prompt medical attention. It is essential to maintain a minimum level of urine production to ensure that metabolic wastes are effectively removed from the body, and failure to do so can impair organ function and lead to serious consequences, such as severe dehydration or renal disease. The kidneys must produce a minimum urine volume of about 500 mL/day to rid the body of wastes, and an output below this level may indicate that the patient is at risk. Thus, an hourly urine output of 20 mL (option 1) would be the threshold to alert the healthcare provider, but since it is not listed as one of the options, option 2 (30 mL) is the correct answer given the available choices.