Nursing & Healthcare Programs

Measuring and Recording Output from a Urinary Drainage Bag

Written by Amanda R. McDaniel, MS, BSN, RN
Amanda is a BSN/RN with a MS in Physiology and a BA in English. She worked as a medical writer in the pharmaceutical industry for 11 years before pursuing a career in nursing. She now works as a nurse on a NeuroTelemetry unit and continues to write and edit on a freelance basis. Amanda’s LinkedIn

Accurate measurement of urination (aka, the output portion of intake and output) allows medical personnel to assess kidney and bladder function. Changes in output quantity or quality can reflect health status changes including new-onset infection or renal injury.

  1. Gather your supplies:
    • Gloves
    • Graduated measuring container. Make sure that the measurement on the container reflects the accuracy required by the doctor or institutional policy.
    • Antiseptic wipes
    • Paper towels or an absorbent pad
  2. Give the resident privacy by closing the door or curtain.
  3. Perform hand hygiene and don gloves.
  4. Lay the paper towels or absorbent pad on the floor below the urinary drainage bag.
  5. Place the measuring container on the towels or pad.
  6. Without allowing the drain to touch any part of the measuring container, open the drain and allow all urine to drain into the container.
  7. Clamp the drain and clean the end with an antiseptic wipe. Place the drain back in its holder.
  8. Note the amount of urine in the container. Note the characteristics of the urine. What is the color? Is there sediment or blood present? Does it smell strongly? Is there a decrease or increase in the amount of urine versus the last time the bag was emptied?
  9. Remove the paper towel or absorbent pad.
  10. Pour the urine into the toilet and rinse the measuring container. Pour the rinse water into the toilet and flush.
  11. Disinfect and store or dispose of the measuring container.
  12. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
  13. Record the quantity and characteristics of the urine in the appropriate section of the resident’s chart per institutional or unit policy. Report any changes to the nurse per policy.

References

S. A. Sorrentino, & L. N. Remmert. (2012). Urinary elimination. In Mosby’s textbook for nursing assistants (8th ed., pp 399). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

More Resources

Caring for a Patient’s Dentures

For patients with dentures, care of the dentures is just as important as brushing natural teeth. Good denture hygiene and fit helps prevent oral irritation and infection.

Performing Ostomy Care

Residents who have had a portion of their intestines removed due to illness or trauma may have a temporary or permanent ostomy, which is an opening in the abdomen that is created for the elimination of urine or feces. The portion of the intestine that is connected to the abdominal wall and is visible is called the stoma. A pouch is placed over the stoma to collect feces.

Putting on Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is worn to protect the mouth, nose, eyes, clothing, and skin from unwanted pathogens. In the health care setting, a patient’s condition often prompts the use of personal protective equipment; however, a health care worker is able to wear personal protective equipment whenever he or she deems it is necessary (e.g., during procedures with the potential for excessive contact with bodily fluids).

Offering the Bedpan

When a resident is bed-bound, they must use a bedpan to urinate and defecate. This can be embarrassing for the resident, so it should be done with sensitivity to the resident’s privacy and dignity. There are two types of bedpans. A regular bedpan is the deeper and more rounded of the two. A fracture pan has a relatively flat upper end with a trough at the lower end. Fracture pans are used for residents who have difficulty, or restrictions against, moving their hips and/or backs.

Orthopneic Position

Patients with respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) find ways to help themselves breathe more easily. This can include sleeping with extra pillows to keep them propped up or leaning forward to ease the work of breathing. The orthopneic position is one forward-leaning position used to help patients breathe comfortably when they are having difficulty.

Handwashing for CNAs

Handwashing is considered the single most important practice to prevent the spread of infection. Even when hands look clean, they could potentially be crawling with dangerous microorganisms and pathogens. Using soap and friction during handwashing helps loosen the oils on the skin, allowing dirt and pathogens to be rinsed away.