A nurse is caring for a client who has urinary leakage due to nerve damage following a spinal cord injury. The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing which of the following types of urinary incontinence?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Stress incontinence: Stress incontinence occurs when small amounts of urine leak due to increased intra-abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, or exercising. It is related to weakened pelvic floor muscles, not nerve damage. B. Reflex incontinence: Reflex incontinence happens when nerve damage from conditions like spinal cord injury prevents voluntary control of urination. The bladder empties reflexively once it reaches a certain volume, leading to involuntary leakage. C. Overflow incontinence: Overflow incontinence results from bladder overdistention due to obstruction or underactive bladder muscles. It is characterized by frequent dribbling of urine rather than reflexive emptying caused by nerve injury. D. Urge incontinence: Urge incontinence involves a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by involuntary leakage. It is commonly linked to overactive bladder but is not typically associated with spinal cord nerve damage.