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Discussion

External stent?

Hi...I am a newbie and working on a surgery unit. When I was getting report from the OR nurse about a patient that had a cystoscopy, she stated that the patient (male) had stent placement. I (being new) assumed that he had internal stents, but later on my preceptor had asked me to check the stents. I was confused because I always thought that stents were internal. I (embarressed) asked the patient if I could assess the site. All I saw was the upper portion of the patient's member wrapped with tape. What do the stents look like exactly, and how do I assess them if the patient has tape wrapped around? My preceptor said that it would look like a black, coiled string, but honestly I didn't see anything. I know now to listen better to hear if it is internal or external...ughhh.:imbar

Featured Replies

As a new nurse, you are being precepted to learn. If there is something that you don't know how to do, you need to be honest and let your preceptor show you. Not correctly assessing the patient can be dangerous. It may embarrass you to not know something, but we've all have been there and will be there again at anytime. We can't know everything, so for the patient's sake, we must ask in order to properly care for the patient. I've been an ICU nurse for years in the cardiovascular ICU, but if a neuro patient is brought in with a shunt or drainage system that I don't have a clue about, I will take care of the patient, but I will grab a nurse who can explain the device to me. And if there isn't a nurse in the unit who knows, I just tell the doctor that I haven't cared for this type of patient in a while and ask him what I am looking for in particular. If all else fails, look it up in the reference books on your floor or in your units. There should be plenty around. But most of all, you have to be honest because the patient's safety is at stake.

  • Experts

I would imagine that what they wanted you to assess was the string which is external, the stent is internal in the ureter. The string is used to remove the stent when it is no longer needed.

Here is a good article from medscape that will give you some basics:

http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/16253054?src=emed_ckb_ref_0

Here is some pt info about removing the ureteral stent:

http://www.urologyofva.com/Stent%20information.htm

  • Author

Thank you both for the input...I do ask questions, it is just that I misunderstood. But I guess with every experience a lesson is learned and I will always be aware of that....Also, will make sure to ask the reporting nurse more questions.....Thanks for the articles, I really do appreciate them.:thankya:

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