urinary care application

What is the term for painful or difficult urination?

Dysuria

Voiding more often than usual is defined as urinary _____.

Frequency

What is the term for frequent voiding during the night?

Nocturia

What clinical term describes involuntary voiding in bed, commonly known as bed wetting?

Enuresis

An increase in the expected amount of urine a person excretes over a period is called _____.

Polyuria

What term refers to a decrease in the expected amount of urine a person secretes and excretes?

Oliguria

What is the medical term for the total absence of urine?

Anuria

The stopping of urination is known as urinary _____.

Suppression

The inability to fully empty the bladder is defined as urinary _____.

Retention

Normal human urine should be clear or transparent and possess a characteristic _____ odor.

Aromatic

At what volume range in the bladder do stretch receptors typically send a signal to the brain to indicate the need to urinate in an adult?

250 to 450 mL

What is the normal color of stool, primarily due to the presence of bile?

Yellowish-brown

Gray or clay-colored stool usually indicates that _____ is missing, often a sign of gallbladder disease.

Bile

What condition is suggested by the presence of dark, black, or tarry stools containing partially digested blood?

Melena

Bright red blood in the stool typically indicates bleeding in which area of the body?

Rectal or anal area

Stool that is yellow or green in color may suggest the presence of _____.

Infection

What type of enema is specifically designed to remove feces from the bowel?

Cleansing enema

Which type of enema acts to soften and lubricate hard stool?

Oil-retention enema

What is the purpose of a carminative enema?

To relieve gas or flatulence.

A return-flow enema is primarily used to help relieve gas and abdominal _____.

Distention

What is the primary function of an anthelmintic enema?

To destroy intestinal parasites.

When administering an enema, in what position should the client be placed?

Left Sims position

During the digital removal of feces, what finger motion should be used to break up the stool?

Scissor motion

What is the primary risk associated with the digital removal of feces due to potential vagus nerve stimulation?

Bradycardia

Vomitus with a 'coffee ground' appearance is a sign of bleeding in the _____.

Lower digestive tract

In body mechanics, where is the center of gravity located in the human body?

Pelvic area

What serves as the base of support for the human body during standing and movement?

The feet

What type of exercise involves contracting a specific muscle group while holding a static position?

Isometric exercise

When transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchair, at what angle should the chair be positioned to the bed?

45 degrees

On which side should the nurse position the chair when transferring a patient with one-sided weakness?

The patient's strong side.

Which type of crutch has a cuff that fits around the patient's forearm?

Lofstrand crutch

Physical restraints are mechanical devices that limit a patient's movement or access to their _____.

Body

How often should a provider monitor a patient in non-violent restraints?

At least every 2 hours.

How frequently must a patient in violent restraints be monitored?

Every 15 minutes.

Which position involves the patient lying on their back with legs extended or slightly bent?

Supine

Describe the Sims position.

Side lying (left side) with the upper knee flexed and the bottom arm behind the body.

Which position is used specifically for a patient sitting full upright, often using a bedside table for support?

Orthopneic

In the Trendelenburg position, the patient's head is _____ than their feet.

Lower

What cardiovascular complication involves a drop in blood pressure when a patient moves from a lying to a standing position?

Orthostatic hypotension

What metabolic state occurs during immobility when protein breakdown exceeds protein synthesis?

Negative nitrogen balance

How does immobility affect the elimination system regarding urine flow?

It causes urinary stasis

Stasis of secretions in the lungs during immobility increases the risk for _____.

Hypostatic pneumonia

To reduce the risk of thrombus development in an immobile patient, what simple leg exercises should be encouraged?

Ankle pumps and foot circles.

What type of urinary diversion involves a surgeon forming a reservoir from the ileum that the client empties via a catheter?

Kock pouch (continent ileal bladder conduit)

Which type of urinary incontinence is characterized by the loss of small amounts of urine during laughing, sneezing, or lifting?

Stress incontinence

What type of incontinence occurs when a person is unable to reach the bathroom in time due to an overactive detrusor muscle?

Urge incontinence

Reflex incontinence is often caused by damage to the spinal cord above which level?

The sacral micturition center.

Incontinence caused by factors outside the urinary tract, such as cognitive or mobility impairments, is called _____ incontinence.

Functional

What bladder analgesic is known to turn the client's urine orange?

Phenazopyridine

Before a fecal occult blood (guaiac) test, for how many days should the client avoid consuming red meat?

3 days

What color indicates a positive result on a guaiac fecal occult blood test?

Blue

When instructing a client on collecting a clean-catch midstream urine specimen, what must they do first?

Clean the urethral meatus.

To prevent backflow and infection, where should a urinary drainage bag always be placed in relation to the bladder?

Below the level of the bladder.

How often should a nurse reposition a client sitting in a chair to prevent pressure injuries?

Every 15 minutes.

When using a cane, on which side of the body should the client hold the device?

The uninjured (strong) side.

What is the purpose of Sequential Compression Devices (SCDs) or elastic stockings?

To promote venous return.

The Valsalva maneuver increases the workload of the _____ and should be avoided.

Heart

What is the recommended daily fluid intake for females to maintain healthy elimination?

2.7 L/day

What is the recommended daily fluid intake for males to maintain healthy elimination?

3.7 L/day

During bladder retraining, the nurse should gradually _____ the time between voiding intervals.

Increase

Which diagnostic test uses high-frequency sound waves to view gross renal structures?

Renal ultrasound

What procedure involves the use of a lighted instrument to visualize, treat, and obtain specimens from the bladder and urethra?

Cystoscopy

What condition is characterized by a bowel pattern of difficult and infrequent evacuation of hard, dry feces?

Constipation

Which position is used for a lumbar puncture to expose the back?

Lying on the right side with knees and head flexed sharply.

In the lithotomy position, the client is supine with legs separated and feet in _____.

Stirrups

What is the term for the inability to hold urine?

Incontinence

Normal urine output for an adult relates to person size, bladder condition, and _____ level.

Hydration

Yellowish or greenish vomitus indicates that it contains _____.

Bile

A nurse performing _____ ROM moves the client's joints because the client is unable to move them independently.

Passive

Which type of walker is often recommended for long-term use because it encourages the client to stand erect?

Reverse walker

When identifying a fall risk, the nurse should check for orthostatic _____.

Hypotension

What should be kept within reach for a patient to prevent falls when they need assistance?

The call light

What integumentary risk is aggravated by metabolic changes and increased pressure on the skin during immobility?

Pressure injury

To reduce the risk of thrombus, how often should a nurse encourage an immobile client to perform antiembolic exercises?

Every 1 to 2 hours

What is the first step a nurse should take if a walking client feels faint?

Help them lean against a wall and bend over.

What are the normal colors of urine?

Pale yellow to amber.

What does cloudy urine indicate?

Possible infection (e.g., UTI).

What is the average daily urine output for an adult?

1,500–2,000 mL.

Define dysuria.

Painful or difficult urination.

What does black/tarry stool (melena) indicate?

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (e.g., stomach ulcers).

What does red stool (hematochezia) indicate?

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (e.g., hemorrhoids, colon cancer).

What is the most common cause of constipation?

Low fiber intake, dehydration, or lack of physical activity.

What is fecal impaction, and how is it treated?

A hardened stool stuck in the rectum. Treated with manual removal, enemas, or laxatives.

What is the purpose of a cleansing enema?

To relieve constipation or clear the bowel before surgery.

What position should a patient be in for an enema?

Sims’ position (left side-lying with right knee flexed).

What are the risks of digital removal of feces?

Vagal stimulation (bradycardia), rectal trauma, or bleeding.

What does coffee-ground vomitus indicate?

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (e.g., stomach ulcers).

What is the center of gravity?

The point where an object’s weight is concentrated (e.g., the pelvis for humans).

What is the base of support?

The area beneath an object or person that provides stability (e.g., feet placement).

What are the three types of range of motion (ROM) exercises?

Active, passive, and active-assistive.

How do you transfer a patient from bed to wheelchair safely?

1. Lock the wheelchair and bed.

2. Assist the patient to a sitting position.

3. Use a gait belt if needed.

4. Help the patient pivot and sit in the wheelchair.

What is the correct gait for crutches when descending stairs?

Crutches and the affected leg move first, followed by the strong leg.

How do you measure crutch height?

Adjust so the top of the crutch is 2–3 finger-widths below the armpit when standing upright.

Patient Safety and Restraints

What are the legal considerations for using restraints?

Restraints require a doctor’s order, must be time-limited, and require regular assessment.

What is the first intervention for a patient at high fall risk?

Place the patient in a room near the nurses’ station and use bed alarms.

What are the types of restraints?

Physical (e.g., wrist restraints), chemical (e.g., sedatives), and environmental (e.g., locked doors).

What is Trendelenburg position, and when is it used?

The patient lies with the head lower than the feet. Used for shock or low blood pressure.

What is Sims’ position, and when is it used?

The patient lies on their left side with the right knee flexed. Used for enemas, rectal exams, or unconscious patients.