Final answer:
In the context of Genitourinary health, nurses would ask about urinary frequency, pain, sexual history, and observe for physical signs like tenderness and abnormalities during an objective assessment. Urinalysis helps in revealing infection or conditions like diabetic nephropathy, guiding potential nursing diagnoses such as Risk for Infection and Impaired Urinary Elimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
When obtaining a thorough subjective health history for Genitourinary issues, a nurse would be focused on asking additional questions that cover symptoms related to urinary and reproductive systems. The nurse might inquire about the frequency, urgency, and any pain associated with urination, as well as potential exposure to sexually transmitted infections, changes in sexual function, menstrual history, and any past genitourinary surgeries or conditions. For subjective assessments of urine, questions about the color, odor, presence of blood or foam, and any recent changes can provide insightful information.
Objective physical assessments for Genitourinary health include inspecting the external genitalia for lesions or discharge, palpating the abdomen and flank areas for masses or tenderness (which could indicate kidney stones or bladder infections), a pelvic exam in females, and possibly a digital rectal exam in males to assess the prostate. Checking for supra-pubic tenderness may also be indicative of bladder infections which are more common in females due to their shorter urethra. Urinalysis is a common laboratory test to assess physical characteristics of urine, presence of white blood cells, proteins such as albumin, and signs of infection or diabetic nephropathy.
Potential nursing diagnoses related to Genitourinary assessments might include "Risk for Infection," "Impaired Urinary Elimination," "Acute Pain," and "Urinary Incontinence." These diagnoses consider the presence of symptoms like back pain, fever, or changes in urinary patterns that may signal underlying conditions affecting the genitourinary system.