Female catheter tips

[tsm007]

I've only attempted one female catheter and it didn't go well. An RN with experience had problems as well so not going to be too hard on myself, but I'd like some tips for doing better next attempt. I had a little trouble identifying the urethra, but I did find it. However, when I went to insert the catheter it didn't go in. Is there any tips to getting the urethra to open better? It wound up slipping into the lady parts. I was pretty sure that was what happened as soon as I started feeling the catheter move forward. So anyway, I guess my question is what do you do when you go to insert the catheter and it doesn't go in. It was like trying to thread a needle where the thread keeps going to the side instead of entering the hole. (I hope that makes sense as a description.) I really want to get this right the next time. I had no problems with male catheterization (and that was actually more challenging than I expected as well on elderly males).

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Time to reprint my handy-dandy, never-fail, no-lady partsl-contamination Foley-insertion trick.

When you are prepping the woman, tuck the last betadine-soaked cotton ball into the introitus. Not deep, just enough so it blocks the lady parts. Then when you are trying for insertion and you miss, the cath only hits the sterile cotton ball and you can keep trying (ask for a cough and look for the "wink" or a little urine output) because it isn't contaminated. Retrieve the cotton ball when all is secure and cleaned up.

I never went lady partsl with a Foley again after learning that. Works every time.

[krisiepoo]

GrnTea, that's flipping brilliant.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Excellent tip, GrnTea!

[IrishErin]

Time to reprint my handy-dandy, never-fail, no-lady partsl-contamination Foley-insertion trick.

When you are prepping the woman, tuck the last betadine-soaked cotton ball into the introitus. Not deep, just enough so it blocks the lady parts. Then when you are trying for insertion and you miss, the cath only hits the sterile cotton ball and you can keep trying (ask for a cough and look for the "wink" or a little urine output) because it isn't contaminated. Retrieve the cotton ball when all is secure and cleaned up.

I never went lady partsl with a Foley again after learning that. Works every time.

You truly always have the best tricks and bits of advice! I really want to try this!

[loriangel14, RN]

I work with an nurse that finds the meatus by applying betadine liberally and it runs down and pools in the meatus, making it easier to find.

[tsm007]

Time to reprint my handy-dandy, never-fail, no-lady partsl-contamination Foley-insertion trick.

When you are prepping the woman, tuck the last betadine-soaked cotton ball into the introitus. Not deep, just enough so it blocks the lady parts. Then when you are trying for insertion and you miss, the cath only hits the sterile cotton ball and you can keep trying (ask for a cough and look for the "wink" or a little urine output) because it isn't contaminated. Retrieve the cotton ball when all is secure and cleaned up.

I never went lady partsl with a Foley again after learning that. Works every time.

That's a great idea. Thanks for sharing that.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I typically have my hand palm-side up once I have the catheter at the entrance to the urethra, so if it does slip, it tends to slip up on to the perfectly sterile, disinfected labia/privy parts area and I haven't contaminated anything, as opposed to having my hand palm down where it tends to slide down into the lady parts. GrnTea's idea is much better though! I'm going to be using that one in the future.

My mantra is "anterior and midline" which reminds me angle the tip just a bit anteriorly.

Keep the free tip pretty short so that it's stiffer and less likely to bend or flop around.