Assisting with a Urinal

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Percentage Correct: 100%
1. A male patient on bed rest is permitted to stand to use the urinal.
Which action would the nurse take to ensure his safety before helping
him to a standing position?
A. Determine his risk for orthostatic hypotension
B. Assess his genitals for signs of impaired skin integrity
C. Ask him to demonstrate proper use of a urinal
D. Instruct him to use the call light when he is finished

Rationale: Since the patient is on bed rest, he is at risk for orthostatic

hypotension. Assessing for this condition would help ensure that the
patient could stand safely to use the urinal. Assessing for impaired skin
integrity is a nursing responsibility, but it does not pertain to patient
safety while standing to use a urinal. Demonstrating proper use of a
urinal pertains to patient education, not patient safety. The nurse is
unlikely to give an instruction to use the call light, since it is not safe to
leave the patient while he is standing at the bedside using the urinal.
2. The nurse is delegating to nursing assistive personnel (NAP) the task
of assisting with a urinal. The nurse specifies to NAP that the urinal is to
be used in bed, not in a standing position, for which patient?
A. Patient admitted for hypertension and diabetes
B. Patient with complete left-sided paralysis caused by a stroke
C. Patient receiving diagnostic tests for esophageal strictures
D. Patient being treated for dehydration from heat exposure
Rationale: The nurse would instruct the NAP not to allow the patient
with complete left-sided paralysis to stand while using the urinal.
Helping this patient stand is not safe for either the patient or the staff.
However, a patient with hypertension and diabetes, esophageal
strictures or dehydration, can probably stand safely to use the urinal.
3. Why would the nurse assess a patient’s abdomen before helping with
the use of a urinal?
A. To determine if the patient needs a bed pan for bowel elimination
B. To assess for abdominal pain
C. To assess for bladder distention
D. To determine if the patient will need help using the urinal

Rationale: The nurse would palpate the patient’s abdomen before

assisting with a urinal in order to assess for bladder distention.
4. The nurse is assisting a patient with the placement of a urinal. The
patient tells the nurse, “I’ll call you when I’m done.” What is the nurse’s
best response?
A. “All right, my name is Robin, and I’ll be right across the hall. Just call
me when you’re finished.”
B. “Fine. Recap the urinal, hang it on your side rail, and use your call
light to let me know you’re finished.”
C. “I'll check on you as soon as I get a chance.”
D. “I'll be back in 15 minutes. That should be enough time for you to
finish up.”

Rationale: This response encourages the patient to handle the urinal

appropriately after use and to rely on the call light to communicate his
needs. There is no guarantee that the nurse will hear and thus respond to
the patient’s call. In addition, calling across the hall may be disruptive to
other patients. This response is unlikely to address the patient’s needs in
a timely, appropriate manner. The patient might tire of waiting and try to
get out of bed to empty the urinal himself. This response makes an
assumption regarding the amount of time the patient will need to use the
urinal. The patient may either feel rushed or get tired of waiting and try
to get out of bed to empty the urinal himself.
5. Which action promotes infection control when assisting a patient with
a urinal?
A. Placing a clean urinal on the overbed table
B. Using a waterproof pad to protect the linen from urine spillage
C. Applying gloves before emptying and cleaning the patient’s urinal
D. Asking if the patient would like to clean the genitals after using the
urinal

Rationale: Donning gloves before handling the urinal would promote

infection control. The urinal should not be placed on the overbed table.
Although using a waterproof pad may be appropriate, it does not pertain
to infection control. The nurse should assist with perineal care after the
patient uses the urinal, not just ask the patient if cleaning is desired.

Skills