Does this happen to anyone else? (female cath)

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So today in clinical i had the opportunity to do my first female catheterization. However, when i was doing it, on my first attempt i missed the urethra and inserted into the lady parts. I left the catheter in and then started again, and got the right place on the second time. However, i now feel really stupid for inserting into the wrong place.....has this happened to anyone else?

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i always bring a spare foley with me when cathing a female just for this reason! something else that is good practice to do: before you open your sterile pack and get your sterile gloves on, put on a regular pair of gloves and just look for your target before hand, so you have a better idea of where to aim! also, always take atleast ONE friend with you. sometimes you need an extra set of hands. usually if i miss the first time i will leave the cath in the lady parts and then go right above it with a fresh cath.

when i was in nursing school, i had a patient who had weird anatomy from having a lot of children and i guess because of tearing or what not she had what looked like two urethras--but one was a big scar, and you could have actually fed in about an inch of catheter into it!

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Specializes in IMCU.

Haven't done one yet but my instructor used that specific example as something that happens quite frequently.

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