A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a patient who reports constipation.
Which of the following should the nurse discuss as causes of constipation? (Select all that apply.)

Choice A rationale:

Urinary retention is a condition where the bladder doesn’t empty all the way or at all when you urinate. This can lead to leakage of urine, as the bladder is overfilled and may result in small amounts of urine escaping. This symptom is often associated with urinary retention and is therefore a likely finding in a client with this condition.

Choice B rationale:

Dark-colored urine is not typically a direct symptom of urinary retention. It can be a sign of dehydration, certain dietary factors, or a side effect of some medications. While it’s possible for a person with urinary retention to have dark-colored urine, it’s not a specific or direct symptom of the condition.

Cloudy urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can occur as a complication of urinary retention. However, it’s not a direct symptom of urinary retention itself. A nurse would not necessarily expect to see cloudy urine in a client with urinary retention unless a UTI or another complication was present.

Choice D rationale:

Blood in the urine, or hematuria, is not a typical symptom of urinary retention. It can be a sign of various conditions, including UTIs, kidney stones, or more serious conditions like bladder or kidney disease. While it’s possible for a person with urinary retention to have blood in their urine, it’s not a direct symptom of the condition.

Choice A rationale:

Metabolic alkalosis Metabolic alkalosis is a condition that occurs when your body has too many bases. It can occur due to prolonged vomiting, use of diuretics, or an overuse of antacids. In the context of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), metabolic alkalosis is not typically a direct result of the disease. COPD primarily affects the respiratory system and does not directly cause an imbalance of bases in the body.

Choice B rationale:

Respiratory acidosis Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs can’t remove enough carbon dioxide (CO2). This leads to a buildup of CO2 in the body, causing the pH of the blood to decrease and become more acidic. This is the most common acid-base imbalance seen in patients with COPD1. COPD can cause an alteration in respiratory exchanges, leading to retention of CO21. The consequence of hypercapnia due to alteration of gas exchange in COPD patients mainly consists in an increase of H+ concentration and development of respiratory acidosis.

Respiratory alkalosis Respiratory alkalosis is a condition that occurs when there is too little carbon dioxide in the body, often due to hyperventilation. In the context of COPD, this is less likely because COPD patients often have difficulty expelling carbon dioxide, not an excess of it being expelled.

Choice D rationale:

Metabolic Acidosis Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body produces too much acid, or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body. This can occur due to conditions such as kidney disease, lactic acidosis, or ketoacidosis. While COPD can have wide-ranging effects on the body, it does not typically cause metabolic acidosis directly.