Before palpating the bladder of a client with chronic urinary retention, the nurse should
A) have the client drink several glasses of water so the bladder is full and easy to palpate.
B) get the bladder scanner to determine if the bladder is full.
C) review intake and output instead; the bladder cannot be palpated at all.
D) ask the client to take a deep breath and relax the abdominal muscles.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An empty bladder cannot be palpated or percussed. However, in the case of chronic urinary retention, the bladder becomes atonic and difficult to palpate. The nurse will need to use the bladder scanner to determine if the bladder is full.

Before Palpating the Bladder of a Client with Chronic Urinary