Question

a nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative and who has an indwelling urinary catheter to gravity drainage. the nurse notes no urine output in the past 2 hr. which of the following actions should the nurse take first? check to determine if the catheter tubing is kinked. palpate the bladder. obtain a prescription to irrigate the catheter with 0.9% sodium chloride. encourage the client to drink more fluids.

Explanation:

When a postoperative client with an indwelling urinary catheter has no urine output, a kinked catheter tubing is a common and easily - correctable cause. Checking for a kink should be the first action as it is non - invasive and can quickly resolve the issue if present. Palpating the bladder is a secondary assessment, irrigating the catheter requires a prescription and is more invasive, and encouraging fluid intake may not address the immediate problem of no urine output if the catheter is blocked.

Answer:

A. Check to determine if the catheter tubing is kinked.