What is the purpose of a urinary catheter?

The primary purpose of a urinary catheter is to drain urine from the bladder when a patient is unable to do so independently. This can occur for various reasons, such as urinary retention, after certain surgical procedures, or in cases where a patient is critically ill and unable to void. The catheter provides a means of ensuring that urine can exit the bladder, thus preventing complications such as bladder distension, urinary tract infections, or kidney damage that can occur if urine accumulates.

While mobility and monitoring blood pressure are important aspects of patient care, they are not functions served by a urinary catheter. Similarly, although medications can be administered through some types of catheters, the primary role of a urinary catheter is fluid drainage, not medication delivery. Therefore, the correct answer succinctly highlights the catheter's role in facilitating urine flow when a patient lacks the capacity to do so naturally.