Significance and impact of urinary incontinence.

All nurses can play an important role in the detection of urinary incontinence (UI) in both community as well as institutional populations. With their advanced practice assessment and patient management skills, NPs are assuming a major role in the diagnosis and treatment of UI in primary and acute care settings, in home care, and in the management of chronic incontinence in long-term care. A strong commitment by the nursing community to emerge as a leading health care provider of incontinence assessment and management will be a major contribution to providing long awaited assistance for the 10 million incontinence sufferers in the United States. This article reviews the significance and impact of UI across all settings.