Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment of Kidney and Urinary Function Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment of Kidney and Urinary Function related questions and content

The nurse is assessing a patients bladder by percussion. The nurse elicits dullness after the patient has voided. How should the nurse interpret this assessment finding?

  • A. The patients bladder is not completely empty.
  • B. The patient has kidney enlargement.
  • C. The patient has a ureteral obstruction.
  • D. The patient has a fluid volume deficit.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Dullness to percussion of the bladder following voiding indicates incomplete bladder emptying. Enlargement of the kidneys can be attributed to numerous conditions such as polycystic kidney disease or hydronephrosis and is not related to bladder fullness. Dehydration and ureteral obstruction are not related to bladder fullness; in fact, these conditions result in decreased flow of urine to the bladder.