Question

A 23-year-old healthy female college student, presents with a 2-day history of "on and off" dysuria, urgency, and frequency and a single episode of gross hematuria. There is no fever or back pain. She has self-medicated with cranberry juice and pyridium 200 mg, which was left over from a previous urinary tract infection (UTI). Her urine is consequently dark-colored.

1. What data should the nurse obtain?

2. Describe the normal characteristics of urine.

3. What instructions should the nurse give to the patient regarding collection of clean catch urine specimen?

3. What measures can be used to reduce the reoccurrence of UTI?

4. Identify 3 potential/actual nursing diagnoses related to urinary elimination

Answer 1

1. Data obtained from the patient.

              * Informations about past episodes of UTI.

              * Treatments done before admitted in the hospital

              * Present symptoms associated with UTI.

              * Dietry habits of the patient.

2. Normal characterstics of urine.

       

CHARACTERSTICS	NORMAL VALUE
Colour Odor Volume pH Specific gravity. Osmolarity Urobilinogen. White blood cells. Leukocyte esterase. Protein. Bilirubin. Ketones. Nitrates. Blood. Glucose.	Pale yellow to amber. Odorless. 750 - 2000 ml /24hr. 4.5 to 8.0. 1.002 - 1.030. 40 - 1350 mOsmol /kg. 0.2 -1.0 mg /100ml. 0 - 2 HPF None. None. 0.3 mg /100 ml. None. None. None. None.

3. Instruction to collect clean hatch urine.

             * Instruct the patient to washing the genital area with soap and water to prevent

               contamination of urine specimen.

             * Avoid collecting first and last part of urine stream and collect midstream urine to

               eliminate the chances of contamination of specimen with organism naturally present

               in the skin.

            * Collect four ounces of urine for the test.

3. Measures used to reduce reoccurance of UTI.

               * Drinking adequate amount of water regularly to clean tha bladder and wash out bacteria

                 from the urinary tract.

               * Include vitamin c containing foods in the diet to maintain acidity of urine.

               * Avoid holding urine and try to urinate at the time of urge arises.

               * Wiping should be from front to back after urination to avoid becteria enter into urethra

                 from outside of the body.

               * Follow good sexual hygienic practices.

4. Three potential /Actual diagnoses related to urinary elimination.

                    * Impaired urinary elimination related to frequent urination.

                    * Acute pain related to infection and inflammation of urethra.

                    * Deficient knowledge related unawaire of treatment of urinary tract infections.