Please enlighten me;is the cna allowed to insert urinary catherer in any state?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I had a conversation with another nurse and she stated that CNAs can be trained in performing an intermittent catheterization (I'm talking about home health aids) I personally think that is not true but maybe I'm in wrong here?

Specializes in LTC.

Definitely not here in Kentucky. Anything invasive should be licensed nursing practice.

I worked in a peds ER as a tech, I was a medic but most techs had on OTJ training. We did straight caths and phlebotomy regularly, and occasionally Foleys.

Specializes in CNA2: Acute Care, Orthopedics.

I'm a CNA in Oregon and No we cannot stright cath pts. We CAN however stright cath if it is cronic, and the pt. stright caths themselves at home ONLY.

I am a CNA in Pennsylvania. I work at a hospital and all the aides that work in this hospital are trained (1hr of your 1 week orientation is all it takes) and allowed to do intermittent cath's and insert Foleys. The only unit where the Aides are not allowed to perform these task is at the Transitional Sub-Acute Unit because they have nursing home regulations and in that unit this is considered an invasive procedure just like in any nursing home in Pennsylvania where they are also not allowed to cath. I have cathed many patients, taught many of them to cath themselves, taught family members how to cath them and other aides as well. Of course any aide who is not comfortable when they first start is given more time but it is a skill they must complete as part of their task as we do have a lot of patients that require cathing every 4 hours especially after a foley is removed.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I think you answered your own question. It depends on the facility/unit policy.

You said that your floor doesn't let CNA's insert catheters. So even though you are trained, you cannot do it on the specific unit you are working on.

+ Add a Comment