First Cath!

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This may not be a huge deal, but I have to tell somebody and I know all of you can understand the feeling. I had a new admit yesterday s/p lami with fusion (subacute/rehab LTC). She asked for the bedpan every hour or so but was unable to void more than a few drops. Bladder scan showed 400 mL so I called the doctor and got the order for straight cath. Normal thing, happens every day, right? Well, the only woman I had ever cathed up to this point was a mannequin! I'd never had a female patient need a catheter during clinicals. So I'm feeling nervous, sure I'm going to need to call another nurse to help me after placing the cath in the lady parts...nope! I got it on the first try, 500 mL, and my patient was finally able to get some sleep. I have never been so excited about a container of urine before! LOL! :yeah:

yay!! congraz i cant wait intill i get to do my 1st cath.

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Be careful draining that much urine out at one time. I work at a large Trauma 1 hospital and was told after draining 1000mls out of my patient not to drain more than 800mls at a time because it could cause the patient to get very hypotensive.

Instead, you have to drain no more than 800ml. Come back in 30 minutes and drain the rest. If a Pt had 2000ml in there bladder, then they need a catheter or need to see a MD about urinary retention.

I think that only pertains to patients with spinal cord injuries or in cases of autonomic dysreflexia. But I could be wrong.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
I think that only pertains to patients with spinal cord injuries or in cases of autonomic dysreflexia. But I could be wrong.

I work on a Neuro floor so that makes sense.

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Specializes in Peds.

Hooray!!! I remember my first cath insertion in clinical!! It was our first day on the unit, and my teacher was like, "You...here...cath...NOW!". I was nervous the whole time, esp because she said I was going too slow, but I refused to speed up because I didn't want to make a mistake. Got it in the first time. I smiled from ear to ear the rest of the day lol

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yay! congrats! I got my first one a few weeks ago on a itty bitty 2lb baby girl! I'd imagine it was much easier than on the 300+ woman...less surface area to make errors with ;)

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