Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

Which bladder disorder is most likely present in a patient who has experienced a cerebrovascular accident (CVA)?

1. Stress urinary incontinence

2. Hyperactive bladder

3. Uninhibited neurogenic bladder

4. Overflow incontinence

The correct answer is: Uninhibited neurogenic bladder

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), commonly known as a stroke, can significantly affect the neurological control of bladder function. In patients who have experienced a CVA, an uninhibited neurogenic bladder is frequently observed. This condition arises due to the disruption of normal neural pathways that govern bladder storage and voiding. Following a stroke, there can be a loss of voluntary control over the bladder, leading to involuntary contractions. In an uninhibited neurogenic bladder, the bladder may contract unpredictably, resulting in urgency and frequent urges to urinate without the individual being able to suppress the reflex. This condition is characterized by a strong desire to void with potential incontinence, which stems from the neurological deficits caused by the stroke. Other bladder disorders, while they may be encountered in different contexts, do not align as closely with the typical presentations following a cerebrovascular accident. Incontinence types such as stress urinary incontinence or overflow incontinence generally have different etiologies and are often not the primary concerns linked specifically with neurological damage from a CVA. Hyperactive bladder could be a potential outcome as well but is less specific than uninhibited neurogenic bladder, which directly correlates with the neurological implications of a stroke. Thus, the presence of an uninhibited neurogenic