A patient doesn't produce urine and his kidney works normal. The term used to describe this condition is?

AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Medical Surgical Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: AIIMS Rishikesh & Jodhpur NO - 2017

Explanation

Urinary retention is defined as the inability to voluntarily empty the bladder, leading to an accumulation of urine.
The question states that the patient's kidneys are functioning normally, which means urine is being produced and sent to the bladder.
The inability to pass this urine, despite its production, is the classic definition of urinary retention, which is often caused by an obstruction or neurological issue.

Option B: Renal failure is incorrect because it implies the kidneys are not working, which directly contradicts the information given in the question that the 'kidney works normal'.
Option C: Oliguria refers to a significantly reduced volume of urine output (less than 400 mL/day), not a complete inability to urinate. The question implies a complete cessation of urine flow.
Option D: Anuria is the failure of the kidneys to produce urine (output less than 100 mL/day). This contradicts the key information that the kidneys are functioning normally.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Differentiation of urinary elimination disorders to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses must be able to differentiate between urinary retention and anuria, as the immediate interventions are different. Retention requires bladder drainage (e.g., catheterization), while anuria requires addressing the underlying kidney failure.
Assessment for urinary retention includes checking for suprapubic fullness, pain, and using a bladder scanner, which is a critical non-invasive nursing tool.
Untreated acute urinary retention can lead to bladder rupture, chronic kidney disease, and sepsis, highlighting the need for prompt nursing action.

How to Approach the Question

First, break down the question into its core components: 1) The observed symptom is no urine output. 2) The known physiological fact is that the kidneys are working normally.
Next, evaluate each option against the 'kidney works normal' fact. This allows you to immediately eliminate any option that implies kidney dysfunction.
Renal failure and Anuria both describe a state where the kidneys fail to produce urine. Therefore, these options are incorrect.
Oliguria means low urine output, not absent output, and is also related to production. This makes it less likely.
The only remaining option, Retention, describes a condition where urine is produced (by normal kidneys) but cannot be expelled. This perfectly matches the scenario described in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Differentiation of urinary elimination disorders
Stem keywords: doesn't produce urine, kidney works normal
Lead-in keywords: term used to describe
Clinical cues: The key clinical cue is the discrepancy between the observed symptom (no urine output) and the known physiological state (normal kidney function).

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