Urinary incontinence: steps to evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment

In this era of rapid, scientific medical advances, we still live with the myth that urinary incontinence should be accepted as a normal part of aging. Urinary incontinence, however, should not be considered a disease but rather a symptom or sign of an underlying problem. Patients with urinary incontinence now have many places to turn for advice and medical treatment. In addition to urologists, gynecologists, and geriatricians, nurses are actively involved in the evaluation and management of patients with urinary incontinence. The purpose of this article is to outline a systematic nursing approach to the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with urinary incontinence in an office setting.