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Discussion

Foley bag wasn't closed...help

Background: I have a patient with a Foley bag and am a new CNA...first shift alone also by myself...

The nurse moved the patient to his chair and then when I came into the room, there was a puddle by the patient. I asked the nurse what it was and she said, "I don't know. Does it smell like urine?" Granted, a few minutes into the shift, I kind of get used to the smells that are around the facility and so I say it doesn't. She advises me to wipe up the mess with a clean towel.

Later on, I see the leak again and realize that it was his Foley bag that wasn't closed (meaning the clamp wasn't down on the tube). So it was his urine on the floor!!! ARGH!!!! What do I do??????????? I just woke up with the realization that I didn't tell the nurse that that was what it was before the end of my shift.

I'm so scared; I'm not sure what to do. The patient would walk on the floor (not on the leak, I don't think; there may have been a spot on his sock). HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I should just quit now... =(

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    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    Relax. It's no big deal.

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    Well, I assume you closed the foley and cleaned up the floor...so...don't worry about it :) Clamps get left open, residents up in a stand will 'go' on the floor, you just clean it up and move on.

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    Calm down. These things happen. You close the clamp, clean up the mess, let the nurse know, and move on.

    Learn from this, but stop freaking out. That doesn't do anyone any good, and it can upset your patient if he sees that you're all shaken up.

    As mistakes go, this was a rather harmless one. But you have to get yourself together emotionally, or you won't last long. Instead of telling yourself that you're a horrible CNA and you should just quit, say, "Well, that's a lesson learned. Someday when I'm the seasoned CNA orienting a newbie, I'll tell her this story so she won't be so nervous."

    It's all a matter of perspective.

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    • Guides

    Not a big deal at all in the grand scheme. You'll be fine. :) And you'll be the best Foley bag checker in the whole place. :)

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    Really, you are this wigged out over a little pee on the floor? I can see if his intracranial ventriculostomy bag fell on the floor and leaked brain juice all-over the place, but pee? Who would care? His I&O will be a little inaccurate for a shift and the room will smell like he has a cat till housekeeping mops the floor again.

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    Wait til you accidentally kick a foley bag and have VRE urine flooding the room because you just gave your pt 60mg IV lasix.

    Relax, we all do it.

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    Take a deep breath. Put some gloves on. Fix the clamp. Change the guy's sock (and clean his foot with a washtowel if needed). Clean the floor. Throw gloves away. Put dirty sock in soiled linin bin.

    There! All done. =)

    Seriously, no big. Wait until you have gotten poop on the floor AND on your shoes & pants (long story, not worth telling - or listening to!). A little puddle of pee is (heh) a drop in the bucket. You're doing fine.

    Also, trust your instincts more. Why did you ask the nurse what the puddle was? How would she/he have known? Put some gloves on, mop it up, take a look at the Foley bag - check it out yourself & trust yourself to figure it out first. If you can't, or if it's obviously beyond your scope/judgment, then go ask your nurse.

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    • Author

    Thanks for the replies! I think I freaked out because I just woke up and that was the first thing on my mind as well as more nerves on being a new CNA.

    The office job I left has NOTHING on this job! :yeah:

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    I can see if his intracranial ventriculostomy bag fell on the floor and leaked brain juice all-over the place, but pee? Who would care?

    hmmm, brain juice...I just got thirsty

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