Common signs of urinary retention that nurses should monitor include:

• A. Distended abdomen or suprapubic discomfort, restlessness, inability to void, and decreased urine output
• B. Increased urine output
• C. Weight gain
• D. Headache

Answer: (A)

Urinary retention happens when the bladder fills but cannot empty properly, so the signs center on a full bladder and impaired voiding. The best indicator is a distended abdomen or a firm suprapubic area due to the full bladder, along with restlessness from the discomfort, an inability to void, and decreased urine output because little or no urine is leaving the bladder. This combination directly shows that urine is being produced but not expelled. Increased urine output would indicate the opposite problem (polyuria), while weight gain and headache are nonspecific and not typical signs of retention.