The urinary output of a client for 24 hours was 350 ml. The nurse has documented the observation as?

Appeared in: SCTIMST Staff Nurse - 2015 (Set-A)

Explanation

Oliguria is the medical term for low urine output, specifically defined as less than 400 mL per 24 hours in adults.
The client's recorded output of 350 mL falls directly within the established range for oliguria (100-400 mL/day).
This finding is clinically significant as it often indicates dehydration, poor renal perfusion, or the onset of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Option A: Anuria represents a near-complete cessation of urine production, defined as less than 100 mL per day. The client's output of 350 mL is significantly higher than the threshold for anuria.
Option B: Polyuria is the opposite of oliguria; it signifies excessive urine production, typically defined as more than 2.5 to 3 liters per day. 350 mL is a very low volume, not a high one.
Option C: Dysuria refers to the symptom of painful or difficult urination. It describes the sensation of voiding, not the volume of urine produced.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Terminology for abnormal urinary output volumes to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Accurate documentation of urine output is a fundamental nursing responsibility and a critical indicator of a patient's fluid status and renal function.
Oliguria is an early warning sign of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Prompt identification and reporting can lead to earlier intervention and prevent progression to more severe kidney damage.
What if? If the client's 24-hour output was 90 mL, the correct term would be Anuria. This is a more critical finding, suggesting severe renal impairment or obstruction, and requires immediate medical attention.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key clinical data provided in the question: a 24-hour urinary output of 350 mL.
Next, understand the question is asking for the correct medical term to describe this specific volume.
Recall the standard definitions for the terms related to urine volume: Anuria, Oliguria, and Polyuria.
Also, recall the definition of Dysuria to differentiate it from the volume-related terms.
Compare the given value (350 mL) to the definitions. Oliguria is typically defined as a urine output of less than 400 mL/day.
Conclude that 350 mL fits the definition of Oliguria, making it the correct documentation term.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Terminology for abnormal urinary output volumes
Stem keywords: urinary output, 24 hours, 350 ml
Lead-in keywords: documented the observation as
Clinical cues: A 24-hour urine output of 350 ml is a specific clinical value that points to a diagnosis of oliguria.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 411-413

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 1 p. 128-130

Practise the full SCTIMST Staff Nurse - 2015 (Set-A)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.