The nurse is completing an admission assessment. The client reports a 2-day history of hematuria. Which term describes this assessment finding?

A. Ask about medications the client currently takes: The first nursing action should be to gather information about potential causes of the pink coloration of the urine. Certain medications, foods, and medical conditions can cause urine discoloration. Asking about the medications the client currently takes can help identify if the pink coloration is due to a medication side effect, such as certain antibiotics, laxatives, or antipsychotics, which can cause urine to appear pink or reddish.

B. Check the client's vital signs: While assessing the client's vital signs is important for obtaining baseline data and assessing the client's overall health status, it may not provide immediate insights into the cause of the pink urine. Vital signs are unlikely to reveal the underlying cause of urine discoloration.

C. Notify the healthcare provider about the bleeding: Notifying the healthcare provider about the presence of pink urine is important, but it should not be the first action taken without gathering more information. Before contacting the healthcare provider, the nurse should assess the client's medications, recent dietary intake, and medical history to identify potential causes of the urine discoloration.

D. Send the urine to the lab for culture and sensitivity: Sending the urine to the lab for culture and sensitivity is not the first action indicated in this scenario. While urine analysis may be warranted to further evaluate the pink urine, it should be done after assessing the client's medications and obtaining additional information to determine the likely cause of the urine discoloration.

A. Offer toileting reminders every 2 hours: This is the best nursing action because it helps prevent urinary incontinence by prompting the client to use the bathroom regularly. Clients with cognitive impairment may have difficulty recognizing the need to void or remembering when to do so. Providing frequent reminders helps maintain bladder continence and reduces the risk of accidents.

B. Provide clothing that is easy to manipulate: While providing clothing that is easy to manipulate can be helpful for clients with cognitive impairment to independently manage toileting, it does not directly address the issue of facilitating bladder continence. Easy-to-manipulate clothing may assist with toileting independence but does not address the need for regular voiding to prevent urinary incontinence.

C. Explain the need to call for the nurse to help with toileting: While educating the client about when to seek assistance for toileting needs is important, it may not be sufficient for facilitating bladder continence in a client with cognitive impairment. Clients may still have difficulty recognizing the need to void or remembering to call for assistance, making frequent reminders more effective in promoting continence.

D. Encourage avoidance of fluids between meals: Encouraging avoidance of fluids between meals is not an appropriate strategy for promoting bladder continence. Restricting fluids can lead to dehydration and other health complications. Maintaining adequate hydration is essential for overall health, and clients should be encouraged to drink fluids regularly throughout the day. Additionally, restricting fluids does not address the underlying issue of cognitive impairment affecting toileting behaviors.