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12.6.6: Procedure- Measuring Urinary Output

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    • Erin O'Hara-Leslie, Amdra C. Wade, Kimberly B. McLain, SUNY Broome
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    Fluid that is taken in must be eliminated from the body. Urine that is excreted from the body is called output. It is important for Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides to measure the output of their patients to ensure optimal health. A patient may have a condition in which the healthcare provider wants to ensure that their intake equals their output. This helps to ensure adequate fluid balance. Fluids are usually measured using milliliters (mL). The agency will specify the unit of measurement Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides should use.

    Urinals and catheter drainage systems have measuring lines on the system. The amount of urine at the number indicates the amount of output. For patients who use a toilet, commode, or bedpan, urine contents can be emptied into a graduated or other measuring pitcher to provide an accurate measurement of output. Contents can be disposed of down the toilet once the urine has been measured.

    1. Explain to the patient the importance of measuring urinary output.
    2. Always wash hands and don gloves when measuring urinary output.
    3. Pour urine from a bedpan, commode, urinal, or urinary drainage bag into a measuring pitcher or cylinder.
    4. Place the measuring pitcher on a paper towel on a flat surface.
    5. Note amount of urine at eye level. Record amount. Amount of urine should be documented in milliliters (mL).
    6. Discard urine into toilet, unless the urine is needed for a specimen.
    7. If you notice anything unusual about the urine, save the urine to be inspected by a supervisor.
    8. Flush the toilet.
    9. Rinse bedpans, commodes, urinals, and measuring pitchers that have been used.
    10. Store equipment in the appropriate place.
    11. Discard gloves and wash your hands.
    12. Document all output. Report any observations or changes in condition or behavior.
    13. Record and report changes of characteristics of urine, including color, amount, odor, blood or mucus in the urine, or if the patient has difficulty or pain while urinating.

    This page titled 12.6.6: Procedure- Measuring Urinary Output is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Erin O'Hara-Leslie, Amdra C. Wade, Kimberly B. McLain, SUNY Broome (OpenSUNY) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.