Ch. 31 Urinary Elimination and Care Quiz

Urinary Elimination

• Essential for cleansing blood of unnecessary substances; composed of 95% water and 5% solutes like mineral salts and nitrogenous waste.
• Nitrogenous waste includes urea, uric acid, and creatinine, resulting from cellular metabolism.

Waste Products

• Urea: Produced from amino acid metabolism.
• Uric acid: Formed from the breakdown of ribonucleic acid (RNA).
• Creatinine: Arises from muscle metabolism.

Key Terms

• Dysuria: Painful or difficult urination.
• Nocturia: Need to wake up at night to urinate.
• Oliguria: Urine output less than 30 mL per hour.
• Polyuria: Urine output exceeding 3000 mL per day.

Normal Urine Characteristics

• Color: Straw-colored and clear without sediment.
• Clarity: Should be clear; turbidity indicates potential issues.
• Amount: Normal production ranges between 1000-3000 mL per day, or 30 mL per hour.
• Odor: Mild and slightly aromatic; unusual odors may indicate health problems.
• pH: Ranges from 4.5 to 8.0, influenced by diet—high protein lowers pH; citrus increases it.
• Specific Gravity: Normal range is 1.001 to 1.029, indicating concentration level of urine.

Urine Color Indicators

• Adequate fluid intake correlates with light straw color; darker yellow signifies dehydration.

Odor Characteristics

• Mild odor is normal; sweet, fruity, or strong ammonia odors can indicate medical issues.

Urinary Output Information

• Adult urine output reflects various metabolic activities; monitoring is essential in clinical settings.

Oliguria and Causes

• Defined as output less than 30 mL/hour; potential causes include dehydration, urinary obstruction, and renal failure.
• Can result from severe dehydration due to burns or illnesses.

Polyuria and Causes

• Increased output of more than 3000 mL/day; may stem from excessive fluid intake, alcohol consumption, or diuretics.

Anuria

• Absence or minimal urine production, potentially signaling serious conditions like kidney failure or temporary illnesses.

Urine pH and Diagnosis

• Urine pH affected by diet; useful in diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs) and certain kidney stones.

Specific Gravity

• Indicates urine concentration; normal range is 1.001 to 1.029.
• High specific gravity can indicate dehydration or conditions like diabetes mellitus; low suggests excessive fluid intake.

Abnormal Urine Contents

• May include fat globules, blood cells (hematuria), bacteria, and crystals, which require further evaluation.

Normal Voiding Patterns

• Typical urination frequency is four to six times a day without nighttime disruptions.