First CATH

Relax, it was only your first time! Here is what I suggest: 1.)Try to take every opportunity to catheterize a patient that you can. 2.)Bring an experienced CNA or nurse along with you until you can perform this skill comfortably. Practice makes perfect. I missed more often than not when I first started. I used to always bring two catheters with me so I could leave one in the vagina after I had accidently put it there in order to avoid putting the second one there as well!! Now I can find the urethra on a woman who has just pushed for three hours and had a peri-urethral repair!!! You will get there too, just be patient and practice, practice, practice.

Not everyone's the same down there. Relax aand try again as soon as the opportunity comes up.

Noney

I have done several caths as a new nurse. I haven't missed and actually like to do them. But recently, I had this one 60ish female patient that I had to cath. I looked at her anatomy and thought that it was a bit off. Her urethra appeared to be just a little high and I thought I saw "the wink". Well, it wasn't until I was swabbing it that I realized what it was. It was her clitoris. Her urethra was more interior. When I inserted the tip, I thought for sure I was going to miss, but I got the urine return. She was probably my hardest.

Check this site for tips re: foley's.

Hope this helps.

www.ena.org/tips&tricks

It can be very difficult to hit the right spot-even after doing it a million times! There is always one that's not "normal" and you have to basicly shoot in the dark, so to speak. I seem to do better with the abnormal anatomies than I do the normals for some reason-atleast I've had alot more that weren't where they should be....but I work in LTC, so I'm not surprised. Always keep in mind that each person really is dfferent.

The best advise is to just keep doing them. The more practice you get, the better you'll be. And always get help if you need it- I've helped frequently and have had to get help too. Sometimes- it boils down to pure luck...

GAstudent, the older they are, the harder they are to hit. Don't worry. You will soon be able to get it in every time. Also make sure that you have extra good lighting when trying to insert the cath.

Look at it this way-now that you've done it for the first time, next time will be easier. (Atleast you won't be as nervous...)

My first cathetrization was a lady that weighed almost 500lbs. It took two other staff to hold things apart for me!

The more you do.. the more confident you will get!


Jenn