An older adult male client tells the nurse of losing sleep because of having to get up several times at night to go to the bathroom. The client also reports having trouble starting his urinary stream, and he does not feel like his bladder is ever completely empty. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

A. Review the client's fluid intake prior to bedtime: Evaluating evening fluid intake can help manage nocturia over the long term, but it does not directly assess the client’s current bladder status or the underlying cause of incomplete emptying. While important for education and prevention, it is not the immediate priority intervention for evaluation. B. Palpate the bladder above the symphysis pubis: Palpation of the bladder helps the nurse assess for urinary retention, distension, or fullness, which is consistent with the client’s symptoms of hesitancy, weak stream, and incomplete emptying. This hands-on assessment provides immediate information about bladder status and guides further diagnostic evaluation or interventions such as bladder scanning, catheterization, or referral to a healthcare provider. C. Collect a urine specimen for culture analysis: Obtaining a urine culture is indicated if infection is suspected, which may cause frequency or urgency. However, the client’s symptoms are more indicative of obstructive uropathy (e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia) rather than infection. Immediate assessment of bladder distension is therefore more appropriate. D. Obtain a fingerstick blood glucose level: Hyperglycemia can contribute to polyuria and nocturia, particularly in diabetes mellitus, but the client’s obstructive urinary symptoms suggest a structural or functional lower urinary tract issue rather than systemic glycosuria. Blood glucose assessment may be relevant later, but bladder evaluation is the priority.