If urinary symptoms occur after catheter removal, what is the PN's immediate appropriate action?

• A. Reinsert catheter immediately
• B. Perform bladder scan to assess residual urine
• C. Administer diuretics
• D. Call physician

Answer: (B)

When urinary symptoms appear after removing a catheter, the first step is to assess for urinary retention by checking how much urine remains in the bladder. A bedside bladder scan uses ultrasound to measure post-void residual and quickly shows whether the bladder is truly empty or if a significant amount is still present. This information guides what to do next without jumping into invasive measures.

If the scan reveals a meaningful residual volume, the next steps would follow the facility’s protocol, which may include re-catheterization or planned intermittent catheterization to relieve the retention. If the bladder is essentially empty and symptoms persist, you’d look for other causes of voiding difficulties and monitor the patient.

Diuretics won’t help with retention—they increase urine production but don’t address incomplete emptying and can worsen imbalance. Calling the physician is appropriate if the scan indicates retention or if there are concerning signs, but the immediate action is to perform the bladder scan to determine the appropriate next step.