Help with a patient's assessment

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Hi all!

Was wondering if I could get some help on something. I was at Clinicals today and I completed a physical assessment on my patient , and at the very end I noticed that the urine in the Foley was a dark orange color. I know I know, that there are medications that can cause the urine to change color. But for the list of medications I have that my patient is on, that is not a known side effect... So I was wondering, does anyone know if there is another possible reason for the urine being that color? Any input would be great!

I didn't get a chance to look further into it as I only noticed it the last 5 minutes of my shift (poor assessment skills on my part!) So I definitely plan on looking Monday to see what could be the possible cause, but if anyone knows and could fill me in I would much rather know now!

Also, the meds that my patient is on - could be inaccurate as far as not being all of them. They are the medications that she was on at home and continued in the hospital, I couldn't find any that they may have added. But I have noticed in the hospital I'm in, they tend to leave things out of the chart and you have to go look into their computer system - which I do not have access to..... So if it is definitely a side effect of a medication and nothing else then let me know

Thanks for your time guys!

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If you can look at the patient's chart, look in the lab work for the BUN. My patient had Amber colored urine and her BUN was 44, the highest it should have been was 22. I pointed that out to my instructor and she left a note for the shift nurse. The patient also had Bilateral lower extremity 2+ edema, so the fluid was getting to her extremities, but was not filtering correctly through her kidneys. It could be all sorts of things. I would check the lab work and get together with an instructor. This became our post conference chat one day after clinicals this last week.

GOOD LUCK

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thanks! actually her BUN was high - 31. (that was the lab result for several days ago) But I didn't think this would have anything to do with the color of the urine. I'm definitely gonna go back and check her chart and see if the nurse could give me any input - because my Clinical Instructor had no idea either! Thanks for your help

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Any foods that could do this? From what I remember carrots can effect color but if patient is on hospital diet I am pretty sure he/she wouldn't be getting tons of carrots at once... haha guess I am stumped.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

according to the website globalrph (http://www.globalrph.com/urine.htm) the following drugs will turn the urine orange or yellow:

  • chlorzoxazone (parafon forte)
  • dihydroergotamine
  • heparin
  • phenazopyridine (pyridium)
  • rifampin
  • sulfasalazine
  • warfarin

pyridium, in particular, which is given as a urinary antiinfective will turn the urine bright orange depending on how hydrated or dehydrated the patient is.

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Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.

Dehydration will turn urine dark in color. Poss hematuria (not always red). Good call on the BUN.

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notift MD,always if in doubt,go ahead!CYA,and protect pt.Have your head to toe ready with v.s. and o2 sats,allergies and such,and just notify the MD of it.If the MD doesnt like that,"oh well,you did your job".You are the eyes and the ears,dont forget!:nurse:

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