Female Foleys... I STINK AT THEM>>> HELP!!!

[RNOTODAY]

Any tips, please? I just havent dont them much in my career, so I am not good at female foleys. I mean, the pt is asleep, froglegged, how much easier can it get , right? I must be missing something. I feel like a half a nurse!!!! It's so embarrassing......Do you just have to do them over and over again to get the landmarks right? Everything looks the same to me "down there" !!! Please give any advise you can. Nothing is too basic. I get my own seperate gloves, use the betadine of course to look for that wink (that I cannot locate) , and the positioning is optimal, being they are supine, froglegged, and asleep!!!! Thanks in advance!!!

[jonamb]

Have you tried turning the pt. on her side with her knees bent (imagine the position her legs would be in if she were sitting in a chair)? A veteran nurse taught me this, and sometimes it makes things easier to see. I work in LTC, and the landmarks are often very hard to find on elderly women. Quite often, I could not find the "flower" and would have sworn I was cathing the lady parts, only to be pleasantly surprised to find I was indeed in the right place. And don't worry, I'm sure we have all tried to cath a privy parts or a lady parts.

I had to smile when I read about the "flower". That's what I always referred to it as (I've gotten some strange looks from co-workers, but that is what it looks like). I, too, have never seen the "wink". I thought I was really missing something -- glad to know I'm not the only one.

Everyone had good advice! I'm going to keep in mind the one about the bedpan. Always glad to learn something helpful!

[lostfromlatex]

A good tip..the hand you are using to retract with, make sure you pull your hand upward, this will help expose the area. Also, the betadine will pool in the urethral opening. Good Luck!

[TKM_LPN]

I prefer to use the side method to cath elderly residents. It is alot better than wrestling with their legs and some can't tolerate laying that way. While on their side with knees bent, lift labia and most of the time you can see the urethal opening and if not start at the highest point and insert, most of the time you will get results. I also put all three of the cleaning (betadine) swabs together with center one out farther than outside two and with one swipe have area cleansed. Hope this helps.