Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who has an indwelling urinary catheter and notes blood-tinged urine in the catheter bag. The nurse recognizes this finding can be a manifestation of which of the following urinary alterations?
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Correct Answer:
Bladder infection
Rationale:
🟦 Bladder infection (cystitis) can cause hematuria because inflammation irritates the bladder mucosa, making small vessels fragile and prone to bleeding.
🟦 With an indwelling urinary catheter, bacteria can ascend into the bladder, increasing risk for a catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI).
🟦 Blood-tinged urine is often accompanied by other UTI signs such as cloudy/foul-smelling urine, suprapubic discomfort, or fever, so this finding should raise concern for infection.
🟦 The catheter also causes mechanical irritation, but hematuria in this context is clinically treated as suspicious for infection until ruled out.
🟦 Recognizing blood in urine as a possible infection sign is important because untreated cystitis can progress to pyelonephritis or sepsis, especially in vulnerable clients.
Pernicious anemia:
🟦Pernicious anemia causes vitamin B12 deficiency leading to macrocytic anemia and neurologic symptoms, not blood in urine.
🟦It does not directly irritate the urinary tract to cause hematuria.
Prostate enlargement:
🟦BPH commonly causes urinary retention, weak stream, and hesitancy, not typically blood-tinged urine as the primary sign.
🟦Hematuria can occur but is less direct than infection when the client has a catheter and new blood-tinged output.
Dehydration:
🟦Dehydration usually produces concentrated, dark amber urine, not true hematuria.
🟦 It can worsen irritation, but it does not directly cause blood to appear in the urine.
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This question is from Custom NUR213 Final Assessment FA II 2025 Assessment 1 which contains 63 questions.
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Custom NUR213 Final Assessment FA II 2025 Assessment 1
63 Questions
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- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN Custom Exam(s)
- Answer Choices: 4