Discharge patient with Foley, but forgot to give the syringes to remove foley

Philly85 · Jun 25, 2017

I would imagine you could just call the patient, no? Tell your manager and go from there.

Emergent, RN · Jun 25, 2017

You actually don't need a syringe to DC a Foley. A scissors can be used to cut the port that the syringe would attach to inflate the balloon with water. The water from the balloon then just leaks out and the balloon deflates.

What I don't understand is that you expect the patient to remove his own Foley. The normal procedure would be for the patient to return to the doctors office to be reevaluated and have the Foley removed at that time.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jun 25, 2017

My son-in-law was recently released from the hospital with a Foley after surgery. Luckily both my son and I are nurses so D/C'ing the catheter was no big deal, but I don't think it's wise to leave it in and expect the patient or family member to pull it at home.

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2017

I agree, who discharges a patient with a foley and expects them to take it out. I don't think I've ever used a syringe to take a foley out (in the beginning until I found out how much easier it was with just a snip (I wouldn't advise a patient to do that though).

It's getting bad these days when we're sending people home to pull out their own foleys. That could be dangerous. Anway; when you were teaching didn't you show the patient the syringe they would use? I've never heard of this. What's next...IVs, stints (I took out my own stint post ESWL). That's right; I just snipped it and it slid out like magic. I wasn't about to drive into the urologist office so I could have one of his assitants do it.

Anyway, your hearts in the right place. It's during discharge teaching that you can catch many things...like the syringe. I see disaster with this as misunderstandings could lead to someone trying to pull the thing out without taking the fluid out of the balloon (Ouchhhh!).

Good luck to you :)

Bamafan2011 · Jun 25, 2017

Hey, y'all. Thank you so much for the comments. In the hospital we work in, we do d/c patients with foleys. The patient is seeing the urologist in that week, so he could call the dr if he has questions. We do remove IVs before patients leave. I'm still learning as much as I can, for I'm a new nurse. I'll do my best. :)

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2017

Just call the patient and give them instructions but that should have been done before discharge. If its a common practice suggest that an instruction sheet be devised and just print it out and give it to patients or caregivers upon discharge. Then document that.Patients can and do home with all kinds of medical devices in place if they are still needed. You just have to make sure they have the necessary medical followup in place and the plans for followup and or instruction are documented. We send patients home all the time with Pivs if they are having a few more days of home abx. I even have outpatients come in and I place Pivs for all kinds of dental procedures. I have placed many Pivs for outpatient procedures because no one could get the IV in at the time of the first scheduled procedure.

brownbook · Jun 25, 2017

We also send patients home with foleys (and a syringe) that they are to take out themselves. It is probably getting to be a little to late now but I would have called the family and admitted my error, asked if a friend or family member could either go to their urologists, or PCP's office, or come to the hospital, and get a syringe. Maybe even medical supply stores or pharmacies carry them? Of course then notifying these providers of what was happening. I would run this by my charge nurse or manager also.

I can't remember (I HATE old age) but I thought there were rare but real reasons it was not a good idea to cut the port?

In same day surgery 4 - 6 times a year these or similar type of incidents happen. You have to do a little problem solving, be a little creative, but it is not the end of the world and there are usually ways to fix the problem. Above all do not panic! Staff have even driven to patients houses to give them a forgotten item.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 25, 2017

Did the discharge teaching include Foley removal that would even necessitate this consideration? I have only worked in the ED and when we send people home with a Foley, it's typically with the understanding that they have urology follow-up and the Foley should stay in. If I give them instructions on Foley removal, that would obviously be a different scenario.

Bamafan2011 · Jun 25, 2017

It didn't say for him to remove foley until he sees the urologist to help examine the urine.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 25, 2017

It didn't say for him to remove foley until he sees the urologist to help examine the urine.

Then you're fine. If he is supposed to leave it in, then no need for a syringe to remove it.

Bamafan2011 · Jun 25, 2017

Okay, thanks. I've been having spikes of panic ever since I started my job. I may have done everything right, but I always have that doubt that creeps in during my off days. Is that normal for a new nurse to experience this?