{"id":1655,"date":"2024-09-26T18:30:04","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T22:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/hcalabtheoryandpractice\/chapter\/urinary-elimination-2\/"},"modified":"2024-10-07T14:40:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T18:40:21","slug":"urinary-elimination","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/hcalabtheoryandpractice\/chapter\/urinary-elimination\/","title":{"raw":"7.2 Urinary Elimination","rendered":"7.2 Urinary Elimination"},"content":{"raw":"

Normal Urinary Elimination<\/h1>\r\n

The kidneys filter the blood to remove waste products and also assist in maintaining fluid balance in the body. The result is the production of urine. Healthy adults produce between 1\u20132 litres of urine per day. Urine production is affected by a variety of factors such as disease process, age, medications, diet, and exercise. It is important for the HCA to monitor the client\u2019s urinary output, colour, clarity, odour, [pb_glossary id=\"550\"]frequency[\/pb_glossary], and any complaints of pain or discomfort when [pb_glossary id=\"556\"]voiding[\/pb_glossary]. Any abnormalities or changes should be documented and reported, as these can indicate health related changes. Therefore, it is important to know what the range of normal is for each observation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Characteristics of Urine<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Table 7.2.1 Characteristics of Normal Urine<\/caption>\r\n
Characteristic<\/th>\r\nWhat is Normal?<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Colour<\/td>\r\nCan range from pale\/light yellow to straw- coloured (see Figure 7.2.1: Urine Hydration Chart)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Clarity<\/td>\r\nClear; no visible particles<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Odour<\/td>\r\nFaint, mild odour<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Frequency<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Average is 6\u20137 times in 24 hours.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Dependent upon amount of fluid intake, type of fluid, activity, and medications.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
[pb_glossary id=\"549\"]Urgency[\/pb_glossary]<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • A fuller [pb_glossary id=\"403\"]bladder[\/pb_glossary] will cause increased urgency.<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Pregnancy can cause pressure on the bladder resulting in a feeling of urgency.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Pain or discomfort<\/td>\r\nNormally, there should be no pain or discomfort with urination.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1654\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"512\"]\"From Figure 7.2.1 <\/strong>Urine hydration chart[\/caption]\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Table 7.2.2 Abnormal Characteristics of Urine<\/caption>\r\n
Characteristic<\/th>\r\nAbnormal Characteristics<\/th>\r\nPossible Causes<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Colour<\/td>\r\nAmber, orange, brown, or red<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Some foods cause colour change in urine (beets, rhubarb, blueberries)<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Vitamins and some medications can cause a bright yellow or orange hue<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Dehydration causes urine to be more concentrated and thus darker<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Blood in the urine may cause a red tinge<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Clarity<\/td>\r\nCloudy, shreds of mucous, blood clots<\/td>\r\nCould indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other kidney disorder<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Odour<\/td>\r\nStrong, foul<\/td>\r\n\r\n
    \r\n \t
  • Concentrated urine from dehydration can have a stronger odour<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Foul odour can indicate a UTI or other infection<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Some foods such as asparagus can cause urine odour to change<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Frequency\/urgency<\/td>\r\nIncreased frequency (more than 7 times in 24 hours) and feeling a constant need to void<\/td>\r\nCan indicate a UTI or other medical condition such as diabetes or prostate problems in men<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Pain or discomfort<\/td>\r\nBurning, stinging sensation on voiding<\/td>\r\nCan indicate a UTI or other infection.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

Explore More<\/h2>\r\nThe following video provide you with more information about urine and urinary infections.\r\n
\r\n

Videos: Characteristics of Urine and Urinary Tract Infections<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nWatch What Your Urine Colour Says About Your Health | Urinary System Breakdown | #DeepDives<\/em><\/a> by Health (2021) on YouTube.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NAT40dWPlWs\r\n\r\nNext, watch the video, Urinary Tract Infections, Animation<\/em><\/a> by Alila Medical Media (2016) on YouTube.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lY2bZjggc08\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Assisting with Urinary Elimination<\/h1>\r\n

The Health Care Assistant plays an important role in assisting clients to maintain normal elimination patterns. By following the guidelines below, you can support independence and possibly prevent urinary elimination problems. Always check the care plan.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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HCA Guidelines for Urinary Elimination<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

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