Your patient is 4 hours post open appendectomy and has not voided yet. What should you do next?

Performing a bladder scan is the appropriate action to take when a patient has not voided for several hours after surgery, such as an open appendectomy. A bladder scan is a non-invasive ultrasound procedure that can determine the volume of urine in the bladder. This helps to assess whether the patient is experiencing urinary retention, which is a common complication following surgery due to factors like anesthesia effects, pain, or the use of certain medications.

By measuring the residual volume, you can gather critical information that informs further nursing interventions. If the bladder scan indicates a full bladder, this might require intervention such as catheterization to relieve retention. Moreover, it allows the healthcare provider to make informed decisions about the next steps in management, without unnecessarily delaying care or causing discomfort to the patient.

Other options may not adequately address the situation at hand. Administering a diuretic may not be appropriate given the patient's condition, and there is a possibility that it could lead to additional complications. Contacting the surgeon immediately may be excessive if the situation can be assessed with less invasive measures first. Encouraging oral fluid intake might be beneficial; however, it does not address the immediate concern of potential urinary retention, and the patient may find it difficult to void regardless of fluid intake if