A nurse is initiating bladder retraining for a client who has urge urinary incontinence. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the client?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. "Take your diuretic medication with your evening meal.": Taking diuretics in the evening can increase nocturia and exacerbate urinary incontinence. Diuretics are typically scheduled in the morning to minimize nighttime urination. B. "Limit your fluid intake to 500 milliliters per day.": Severely restricting fluids can lead to dehydration and concentrated urine, which may irritate the bladder and worsen urge incontinence. Adequate hydration should be maintained while managing bladder habits. C. "Plan to urinate every 3 hours while you are awake.": Scheduled voiding or bladder retraining involves establishing regular intervals for urination. Urinating every 2–3 hours helps the bladder gradually increase capacity and reduces episodes of urge incontinence by promoting control. D. "Decrease your intake of cranberry juice.": Cranberry juice may acidify urine but is not a primary intervention for bladder retraining. Avoiding irritants like caffeine or alcohol is more relevant for managing urge incontinence.