A patient is being admitted to rule out interstitial cystitis. What should your plan of care for this patient include?

• A. Take daily urine samples for urinalysis
• B. Maintain accurate intake and output records
• C. Obtain an admission urine sample to determine electrolyte levels
• D. Teach the patient about the cystoscopy procedure.

Answer: (D)

The main concept is that diagnosing interstitial cystitis often relies on procedures that visualize the bladder and exclude other causes, so educating the patient about the cystoscopy is essential. Cystoscopy allows direct inspection of the bladder lining and may be done with hydrodistention to identify mucosal changes or other pathologies, helping to confirm IC once other conditions have been ruled out. Providing thorough preprocedure teaching helps the patient understand what will happen, why the procedure is being done, what kind of anesthesia or sedation might be used, and the potential risks such as bleeding or infection. It also prepares the patient for postprocedure care, including expected short-term urinary symptoms and the need for adequate hydration and follow-up.

While routine urinalysis and intake/output monitoring are part of general admission care, they do not directly advance ruling out IC. An admission urine sample aimed at electrolyte levels isn’t aligned with the diagnostic goal in this context. Focusing on education about the cystoscopy directly supports the diagnostic plan for interstitial cystitis.