RNC-MNN Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep for Nurses

Prolonged urinary retention can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in postpartum women. After childbirth, the body undergoes various changes that can affect the urinary system, including the potential for bladder dysfunction and decreased sensitivity to the need to void. If a woman is unable to empty her bladder completely or frequently enough, the retained urine creates an environment conducive to bacterial growth, increasing the risk of infection.

It's important to understand that while other conditions, like pulmonary embolism or preeclampsia recurrence, can have associations with postpartum complications, they are not directly linked to urinary retention in the same way that UTIs are. Increased blood pressure may occur due to various postpartum factors but does not have a direct causal relationship with urinary retention, making those options less relevant in this context. Thus, urinary retention is particularly significant in its predisposition to developing UTIs during the postpartum period.