A nurse is caring for a client who reports xerostomia following radiation therapy to the mandible.

Which of the following is an appropriate action by the nurse?

Obtain the specimen from the retention port. This is because the retention port is a sterile site that can be accessed by a syringe to aspirate urine without contaminating the specimen or the closed drainage system. The retention port should be cleaned with an alcohol swab before inserting the syringe. The specimen should be transferred to a sterile container and labeled appropriately.

Choice A is wrong because unclamping the collection port below the bag would allow urine to flow out of the bag, which is not sterile and may contain bacteria or sediment. Choice C is wrong because disconnecting the catheter from the collection tubing would break the closed drainage system and increase the risk of infection. Choice D is wrong because using the balloon port to obtain the sterile specimen would deflate the balloon that holds the catheter in place and cause trauma to the bladder wall.

Normal ranges for urine characteristics vary depending on the type of analysis, but some general parameters are:

• Color: pale yellow to amber
• Clarity: clear or slightly cloudy
• Odor: faint aromatic
• pH: 4.5 to 8.0
• Specific gravity: 1.005 to 1.030
• Protein: <150 mg/24 hr
• Glucose: negative
• Ketones: negative
• Blood: negative
• Nitrites: negative
• Leukocyte esterase: negative
• Bacteria: <10,000 CFU/mL

When updating protocols for the use of belt restraints, the nurse manager should include the following guideline:

A) Document the client’s condition every 15 min

Frequent documentation of the client's condition and the need for restraint is essential to monitor their well-being and ensure that restraints are used only when necessary. The other options are not recommended:

B) Requesting a PRN restraint prescription for clients who are aggressive is not appropriate because restraints should only be used when there is an immediate risk to the patient or others, and obtaining a PRN prescription for restraints is generally not standard practice.

C) Attaching the restraint to the bed's side rails is not recommended because restraints should be used as a last resort, and there are specific guidelines for restraint application to ensure patient safety.

D) Removing the client's restraint every is not appropriate either. Restraints should only be removed when the client's condition improves, and alternatives to restraint have been explored, or when it's deemed necessary for the patient's safety and well-being following established protocols and guidelines. The option seems incomplete and does not specify the appropriate time frame for removal.