A55-yr-old woman admitted for shoulder surgery asks the nurse for a perineal pad, stating that laughing or coughing causes leakage of urine. Which intervention is appropriate to include in the care plan?

A. Demonstrate how to perform the Crede maneuver: The Crede maneuver involves applying manual pressure over the bladder to aid emptying and is typically used for patients with neurogenic bladder or urinary retention, not stress incontinence. B. Assist the patient to the bathroom every 3 hr: Scheduled toileting may help reduce urgency episodes or functional incontinence, but it does not address the pelvic floor weakness that causes leakage during laughing or coughing in stress incontinence. C. Place a commode at the patient’s bedside: A bedside commode may be useful for patients with mobility issues or urgency incontinence. In stress incontinence, leakage occurs with increased intra-abdominal pressure rather than inability to reach the toilet quickly. D. Teach the patient how to perform Kegel exercises: Kegel exercises strengthen pelvic floor muscles, improving urethral sphincter control and reducing leakage episodes during activities like coughing, sneezing, or laughing.