What is a key nursing intervention for a patient with a urinary tract infection?

Encouraging increased fluid intake is a crucial nursing intervention for a patient with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Adequate hydration helps to dilute the urine and can flush out bacteria from the urinary tract, potentially alleviating symptoms and speeding up recovery. Increased fluid intake also helps to promote more frequent urination, which can assist in clearing the infection.

In the context of UTI management, other interventions like promoting bed rest are supportive but do not directly address the infection or its symptoms. Administering antibiotics without a prescription is not appropriate as it can lead to antibiotic resistance and does not follow nursing protocols for medication administration. Providing a high-sugar diet is counterproductive, as sugar can encourage the growth of bacteria, which could exacerbate the infection rather than help in recovery. Therefore, promoting fluid intake is a key and directly beneficial intervention for this situation.