Skill 7

Bladder Volume Measurement

A bladder scanner is a noninvasive device that creates an ultrasound image of the bladder for measuring the volume of urine in the bladder. The device makes calculations to report accurate urine volumes, especially lower volumes (Al-Shaikh et al., 2009). Use a bladder scanner to assess bladder volume whenever inadequate bladder emptying is suspected. The most common use for the bladder scan is to measure postvoid residual (PVR)—the volume of urine in the bladder after a normal voiding. To obtain the most reliable reading, measure PVR within 10 minutes of voiding (Newman and Wein, 2009). A volume less than 50 mL is considered normal. Two or more PVR measurements greater than 100 mL require further investigation (Newman and Wein, 2009).

Delegation Considerations

The skill of measuring bladder volume by bladder scan can be delegated to nursing assistive personnel (NAP). The nurse must first determine the timing and frequency of the bladder scan measurement and interpret the measurements obtained. The nurse also assesses the patient’s ability to toilet before measuring PVR and, if urinary retention is suspected, assesses the patient’s abdomen for distention. The nurse directs the NAP to:

▪ Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for the use of the device.

▪ Measure PVR volumes 10 minutes after helping the patient to void.

▪ Report and record bladder scan volumes.

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