When caring for a male patient with urinary retention, what is the nurse's first action?

In the case of a male patient experiencing urinary retention, assisting the patient to a standing position can be a beneficial first action due to the physiological changes that occur when standing. Many males find that standing can help facilitate the voiding process because it alters the anatomical angles and may help relieve pressure on the bladder. This position also utilizes gravity, which can encourage urination.

Furthermore, assisting the patient into a standing position may stimulate the urge to urinate, particularly if they are experiencing psychological factors such as inhibition or anxiety about voiding. This simple maneuver can often promote comfort and may encourage the body's natural mechanisms for urination to take place.

While other actions such as inserting a urinary catheter or asking for a diuretic medication might be necessary depending on the patient’s condition and response to initial strategies, these interventions typically come after primary comfort measures such as changing position have been attempted. Limitations on fluid intake are also not advisable as a first action since the patient may need to void to relieve retention, and reducing fluids could exacerbate hydration issues or other complications.