Section: NCLEX

45) The nurse is caring for a 67-year-old man four days after a suprapubic prostatectomy. The physician has removed the Foley catheter. A suprapubic (S/P) catheter remains in place. Which of the following actions, if taken by the nurse, is MOST appropriate?

Encourage the patient to void; measure the amount of urine voided and drained from the suprapubic catheter; document the results.
Clamp the suprapubic catheter for two hours, release the clamp, allow it to drain to gravity; measure and document the results.
Encourage the patient to void every two hours with the suprapubic catheter clamped; open the clamp, allow the catheter to drain to gravity, and document the results.
Clamp the suprapubic catheter; have the patient void; unclamp the catheter, and allow it to drain to gravity; measure and document the results.

Explanation

This checks for residual urine in the bladder after voiding. When residual urine is 75 ml or less the S/P catheter is usually removed.

This question is provided by Kaplan Test Prep.