What is an appropriate nursing intervention for a client who has painful bladder spasms following a transurethral prostatectomy?

The chosen intervention focuses on instructing the client to avoid contracting muscles as if voiding, which is crucial for managing painful bladder spasms after a transurethral prostatectomy. Following such a procedure, the bladder may become overactive or irritable, leading to discomfort and spasms. Encouraging a patient to avoid contracting these muscles can help minimize pain and prevent exacerbation of the spasms.

This intervention supports the recovery process by promoting bladder relaxation. When individuals inadvertently engage in muscle contractions that mimic voiding, it can trigger additional spasms and increase the sensation of pain, thus obstructing healing.

The other options, while they may seem beneficial at a glance, do not directly address the specific issue of bladder spasms in the context of post-operative care. For instance, while muscle contraction exercises can be helpful for other conditions, they could worsen the spasms in this scenario. Increasing fluid intake might assist with hydration but would not alleviate the spasms directly and could potentially lead to increased bladder irritability in the presence of spasms. Lastly, while relaxation techniques can be beneficial for stress relief, they do not specifically target the physiological response of bladder spasms in the post-prostatectomy patient, making them less effective for this situation.