A postoperative client develops urinary retention and voids in small amounts every 15–30 minutes. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

A postoperative client develops urinary retention and voids in small amounts every 15–30 minutes. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

• A. Insert an indwelling Foley catheter
• B. Encourage ambulation
• C. Administer a diuretic
• D. Reassess later

Answer: (B)

Postoperative urinary retention often happens when anesthesia and opioid analgesics slow bladder contractions. The first step to relieve this is to encourage ambulation. Moving around promotes the normal reflex that triggers voiding, helps the bladder fill and empty more effectively, and often restores spontaneous voiding without invasive measures. It also avoids the risks of catheter-associated infection and discomfort from catheterization. If ambulation doesn’t resolve the issue, additional assessment or interventions can be considered, but starting with mobilization targets the functional cause of the retention first. A diuretic wouldn’t address the problem and could disrupt fluid balance. Waiting to reassess later delays relief and risks bladder overdistension and related complications. Inserting a Foley catheter is more invasive and would be reserved if noninvasive measures fail or the patient cannot void with a distended bladder.

Postoperative urinary retention often happens when anesthesia and opioid analgesics slow bladder contractions. The first step to relieve this is to encourage ambulation. Moving around promotes the normal reflex that triggers voiding, helps the bladder fill and empty more effectively, and often restores spontaneous voiding without invasive measures. It also avoids the risks of catheter-associated infection and discomfort from catheterization.

If ambulation doesn’t resolve the issue, additional assessment or interventions can be considered, but starting with mobilization targets the functional cause of the retention first. A diuretic wouldn’t address the problem and could disrupt fluid balance. Waiting to reassess later delays relief and risks bladder overdistension and related complications. Inserting a Foley catheter is more invasive and would be reserved if noninvasive measures fail or the patient cannot void with a distended bladder.