First Cath!

Nurses New Nurse

Published

This may not be a huge deal, but I have to tell somebody and I know all of you can understand the feeling. I had a new admit yesterday s/p lami with fusion (subacute/rehab LTC). She asked for the bedpan every hour or so but was unable to void more than a few drops. Bladder scan showed 400 mL so I called the doctor and got the order for straight cath. Normal thing, happens every day, right? Well, the only woman I had ever cathed up to this point was a mannequin! I'd never had a female patient need a catheter during clinicals. So I'm feeling nervous, sure I'm going to need to call another nurse to help me after placing the cath in the lady parts...nope! I got it on the first try, 500 mL, and my patient was finally able to get some sleep. I have never been so excited about a container of urine before! LOL! :yeah:

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

yay!! :up:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Good going!

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Specializes in Psych, Skilled Nursing.

nice :)

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:yeah::up:
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:yeah: Hahaha! I love it. Good job. Female caths are no joke!
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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

"First times" are always the best! Congrats!

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Fantastic! Always a good feeling knowing you did something right for your patient!

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

Great job!! :hpygrp:

My first cath was on a 300+lb woman. I basically had two techs holding her legs and I just aimed up. Out came 2000ml of urine the color of Coca-Cola.

Bleech!

36 years old to boot.

Drugs are bad.

Tait

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Congratulations! I did my first cath yesterday on a gorgeous fireman! OMG, I was nervous. Can you imagine? A fireman? Oh well, I'm old and married, anyway. But he was a fireman...

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
Great job!! :hpygrp:

My first cath was on a 300+lb woman. I basically had two techs holding her legs and I just aimed up. Out came 2000ml of urine the color of Coca-Cola.

Bleech!

36 years old to boot.

Drugs are bad.

Tait

Be careful draining that much urine out at one time. I work at a large Trauma 1 hospital and was told after draining 1000mls out of my patient not to drain more than 800mls at a time because it could cause the patient to get very hypotensive.

Instead, you have to drain no more than 800ml. Come back in 30 minutes and drain the rest. If a Pt had 2000ml in there bladder, then they need a catheter or need to see a MD about urinary retention.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Congrats! I can do them blindfolded! I worked in a SNF as a LPN and did them all the time.

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