Urinary Elimination

what in the kidneys removes waste products & regulates H₂O and electrolyte balance?

nephrons

where is the initial site of urine formation?

glomerulus

when can you palpate the bladder?

when it’s full

what is the bladder’s capacity?

500mL

why are females more prone to UTIs than males?

shorter urethra

what is the adult minimum output of urine?

30mL/hr

infant minimum expected urine output

1.5-2mL/kg/hr

what are two atypical signs of UTIs found in older adults?

delirium & falls

what medication can increase urine output?

diuretics

what does a nephrotoxic medication mean?

toxic to kidneys

when assessing kidney function, what two invasive diagnostic procedures with blood work are most common?

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) & creatinine

dysuria

pain with urination

polyuria

excessive urination; associated with diabetes

what is it called if urine output is less than 30mL/hr?

oliguria

what is less than 100mL of urine in 24hrs called?

anuria

hematuria

blood in urine

retention

difficulty eliminating urine

if a patient has anuria, what is required?

dialysis: cleansing of toxins in blood & returning clean blood to body

what is prostate enlargement called in males?

benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

True or False: The further up in the urinary tract a UTI is, the less severe it is.

False

what is the most common cause of a UTI?

E. coli

which way do you clean perineal area for females?

from front to backs

about how often should you tell patients to void urine?

every 3-4 hours

if urine appears to be thick or cloudy, what does that most likely mean?

UTI

if urine smells foul, what is it most likely?

infection

average pH of urine

6.0

what does specific gravity number mean?

kidney’s ability to concentrate urine (1.002-1.030)

what does a higher than normal range specific gravity number mean?

limited fluid intake/dehydration

in a urinalysis, which of these should be positive?

• glucose

• ketones

• nitrite

• leukocyte esterase

none of them

if nitrite & leukocyte esterase are positive in a urinalysis, what does that mean?

UTI

what are two common irritants of the bladder?

caffeine & alcohol

for those who cannot fully empty their bladder, what can decrease UTI risk?

intermittent catheterization

what is a urinary diversion/ostomy?

surgically created opening for waste

what catheter is most common?

indwelling or Foley

True or False: There is no way to hold a straight catheter in place.

True

Which catheter requires surgery for insertion?

suprapubic catheter

how often should you clean a catheter?

once per shift