Catheterization? Do you remember your 1st time?

*PICURN* · Feb 3, 2005

when i had to do my first one, i had the RN i was assigned to right there with me, guiding me. Teacher was nowhere in sight (GOD that would have made it much more nerve-wracking!). Luckily, I got it in!

I would review the procedure step-by-step a couple times the morning of clinical just to refresh your memory. Try and relax and remember its not the end of the world if you make a mistake, BUT it is the end of the world if you notice you have broken sterile technique and pretend it didn't happen. Then your teacher will be pretty upset! Just relax and try not to make such a big deal out of it, you will be nervous, but just focus on the procedure.

good luck!

kar212 · Feb 3, 2005

I remember the first time I placed a Foley. It was in my OB rotation and I think the lady had an epidural in, so she didn't feel a thing. The nurse was there and guided me. My first couple jobs were in LTC and for the longest time, I could NOT get a Foley in a woman, any woman, it seemed. I just couldn't find the right hole!!! But eventually, I got the hang of it and it's been a long time since I've been unsuccessful. Men are much easier. :rolleyes:

twinbee25 · Feb 4, 2005

Hi, thanks for your input! It is really appreciated! I will review over the step by step procedures. Also I would never think about trying to hide a mistake!

thanks again!

MamaTheNurse, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2005

my first was a female who had the longest urethra ever - I swear it was the entire length of the rubber catheter - and she insisted on talking on the phone to her son while I was doing it!!! my first male was an elderly gentleman in the ER who was circumcised and I forgot to retract the foreskin before I grabbed him with my sterile hand - I had to do a modified jerking motion (if you know what I mean) to retract the foreskin - the ER nurse in there with me turned his back on me but I could see his shoulders shaking from laughter!! boy, those were the days...... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

good luck to you !!!

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2005

My classmate put her first one into a med-surg female pt that had her TV on to a soap opera... there was a woman on the show having a baby and was wailing and screaming while my classmate was putting the foley in. The woman wasn't making any noise so only the wailing woman on TV could be heard. My classmate AND the instructor had a hard time not laughing.

cocothemonkey · Feb 4, 2005

My first ones were in my practicum in the operating room. Perfect learning situation, the patients were out cold.

Ms.Hobbes · Feb 4, 2005

I had to think about this one it has been twelve years since I placed my first foldy catheter. It was a woman who had bilateral knee replacements, definitely wouldn't recommend a patient like that being your first person to catheterize. I remember my instructor standing by, my jaw was clenched so tight and after two tries I was able to place it. Of course now catheterizing someone is much easier. I encourage you as a student though, to grab any opportunity you have to do procedures. Trust me things that seem so difficult will soon become second hand with practice :)

Lawnurse · Feb 4, 2005

The first time I placed a foley was in postpartum care. The poor woman had so many tears from labor that my preceptor and I couldn't tell which was the urethra...we had to keep poking and trying. Luckily, it wasn't painful for the patient. Not suprisingly, I got really dizzy and had to sit down. :chuckle

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 5, 2005

My first foley.............. I certainly remember, it was in 1975. It was on the GYN floor and the patient was a post-op hysterectomy. Her foley had been pulled that morning and she was unable to void and needed the foley reinserted. I got the catheter in the lady parts instead of the urethra and suddenly the tubing started filling with blood. Freaked me out. The patient was herself a nurse and saw the horror on my face. She said its ok honey, pull it out and try again you're just in the wrong place. I thought I had done something so bad that she would bleed to death or die. I was 19 or 20 years old.

I cathed my first male patient when I was around 21. The guy was in his 20's and was circumcised. Being from Europe I had never seen a circumcised member. I told him I'm sorry but I think you have something missing down here. I still remember the look on his face. Thankfully I didn't hurt him, he was a paraplegic. My nursing instructor had to explain the circumcision deal to me. I felt so dumb after that.

hypnotic_nurse · Feb 5, 2005

I only ever inserted one, and that was in nursing school. This poor lady weighed 400+ pounds. She was so large that it took 4 of us; one to hold each leg, and my instructor held a flashlight so I could see what the heck I was doing. Got it in one try, surprisingly enough.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 5, 2005

I remember cathing the male mannequin. I also remember his, uh, part popping off of his body (he was one of those interchangeable private parts models).