If No Luck Trying to Straight Cath, Obtain Urine Sample from the Wet Pad?

Uh, I don't think so.

This reminds me fo the "old days" when we drew all specimens from a diaper. It was explained to me that new diaper materials interfered with current testing, so we stopped sending them. If Peds or NICU try bagging, if adult try new cath.

I highly doubt the lab would run a C&S on that specimen.

As has been stated...you cannot obtain a C&S from a specimen "sucked" out of a pad. Elderly women can be challenging to cath, their perineal landmarks are not as clear cut as in a pedi or young woman. Sometimes the urethral meatus is "prolapsed" into the vagina and is not even visible. You may have to catheterize her vagina and leave that cath in place to assist you with visualization. Make sure that you have plenty of light and if the patient cannot help you with good position of her hips and legs, ask for a co-worker to assist. For some patients, it is best to cath them in a sidelying position rather than supine. Good luck.

Common sense it's NG for C&S. Utility depends on what you're assessing for.

At our nursing home we sometimes will put a small cup in place inside a residents brief...you have to check it every half hour

Obviously it's not sterile for a culture but I have gotten ketone strip samples that way... don't try to "suck" it out of a pad with a syringe... just tear a little piece of the wet fluff out of the pad and put it inside the syringe, push the plunger until it squeezes out the drops.

What is the urine sample for?

Um, isn't it supposed to be a sterile specimen-never heard of this one before...

otessa

Urine C&S sample from wet pads? No way. Your effort will be useless. That idea from a supervisor? Are you sure she knows what she's talking about or did she read and understand the order?

Extreme nursing ingenuity is needed. Very challenging.

In our facility we use condom cath, but still, not a sterile means of obtaining specimen. I would encourage patient to drink plenty of fluids if allowed, wrap feet with wet towel or dip the pinky in cold water and then instruct the watcher to "watch out" for the patient to pee and catch specimen mid stream. It usually works when the watcher is as determined as the nurse.