Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) PN-RN Practice Test

A patient experiences urinary incontinence during coughing. This is classified as what type?

1. Urge incontinence.

2. Overflow incontinence.

3. Stress incontinence.

4. Functional incontinence.

The correct answer is: Stress incontinence.

The classification of urinary incontinence as stress incontinence is based on the mechanism of the condition, which involves involuntary leakage of urine occurring when there is increased pressure on the bladder. This pressure can result from physical activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. In stress incontinence, the pelvic floor muscles and the sphincter mechanism do not provide sufficient support against this increased abdominal pressure, leading to involuntary leakage. In contrast, urge incontinence is characterized by a strong, sudden urge to urinate followed by involuntary loss of urine, often related to bladder contractions. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder is overfull and leaks due to an inability to completely empty during urination. Functional incontinence involves a person's physical or cognitive inability to reach the toilet in time, regardless of bladder function. Understanding these distinctions helps in accurately diagnosing and treating different types of urinary incontinence.