The patient cannot remember voiding in the last 24 hours after transplant. Which instruction should the nurse give?

The patient cannot remember voiding in the last 24 hours after transplant. Which instruction should the nurse give?

• A. Advise the client to come to the clinic right away for further evaluation.
• B. Schedule elective appointment in a week.
• C. Tell the client to rest and drink fluids.
• D. Send to the emergency department.

Answer: (A)

Missing urine output for 24 hours after a kidney transplant is a red flag. The transplanted kidney relies on continuous drainage of urine, and a sudden absence of voiding can indicate urinary retention, ureteral obstruction, or evolving graft dysfunction. Prompt evaluation is needed to identify the underlying cause and protect the graft, allowing timely interventions such as checking catheter patency, measuring urine output, assessing kidney function, and potentially imaging or adjusting drainage. That urgency is why advising the patient to come to the clinic right away for further evaluation is the best approach. Delaying care (waiting a week or relying on rest and fluids) risks graft damage, and while going to the emergency department is appropriate if the patient becomes unstable, a prompt clinic assessment is the appropriate initial action when the patient is stable.