Charting: UTIs

[nycNurse2b]

We have a lot of UTIs on our unit. Please tell me what else is important to include in my note. THank you.

- temp

- charachter of urine (color, odor)

- dysuria?

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

All good suggestions...

the question that came immediately to my mind was...WHY?

Why so many UTI's? What are the risk factors of your patient population? Use the nursing process to discover if there are interventions that could reduce this risk.

Most people in LTC do not get enough fluids, as we get older there are certain "feelings" we lose, thirst, hunger, taste, bladder & bowel pressure. Confused residents will often take just the smallest of sips of fluids, thinking they have drank enough. They should be offered a small drink every hour, (especially in the summer when it's hot) but sadly, this is often forgotten due to the hectic schedule we all work. For women, if wiped from back to front after a BM, some of the BM can be pushed into the urethra causing a UTI, this also occures if the pt (male or female) is left sitting in BM or in soaked briefs for (long) periods of time. Also, pts who are continent often end up "holding" thier urine due to being unable to toilet themselves, this is not only painful for them, but, can increase the risk of developing a UTI. Hope this answered you question at least in part.

[tewdles, RN]

Most people in LTC do not get enough fluids, as we get older there are certain "feelings" we lose, thirst, hunger, taste, bladder & bowel pressure. Confused residents will often take just the smallest of sips of fluids, thinking they have drank enough. They should be offered a small drink every hour, (especially in the summer when it's hot) but sadly, this is often forgotten due to the hectic schedule we all work. For women, if wiped from back to front after a BM, some of the BM can be pushed into the urethra causing a UTI, this also occures if the pt (male or female) is left sitting in BM or in soaked briefs for (long) periods of time. Also, pts who are continent often end up "holding" thier urine due to being unable to toilet themselves, this is not only painful for them, but, can increase the risk of developing a UTI. Hope this answered you question at least in part.

Quite correct.

And so we then change our NURSING plan of care to address these known risks with the goal of preventing the UTIs. If these interventions are adequate and correct, the patients will be more comfortable and the facility will be a happier place to live and work. The patient will not have to take an antibiotic, the insurance saves money, the nurse passes fewer meds, there are fewer incontinence episodes...everybody wins!

Nurses rock!