Foley Catheter Insertion

Published

We are being tested in skills lab on indwelling catheter insertion. The instructor had us leave the syringe attached to the catheter after inflating & deflating the retention balloon to test its patency. However, our book states to detach the syringe once deflated & then to reattach after the catheter is inserted. One instructor said to do it the way we were taught & the other said to follow the book, so needless to say we are all very confused, especially since we practiced keeping the syringe attached. Is one way better than the other? Or does anybody have a preference? Thanks.

i have another question. you know how you insert the catheter while you use a sterile sheet that has a diamon cut in the middle to provide for privacy, when is that sheet removed? if it's removed after the foley is inserted, doyou cut it? :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry/IMC.

Our instructors told us not to even use those sheets...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Same thing ^

I always leave it attached. Saves a step. But you need to do it how the instructor checking you off wants it done! I got docked down by this one time with trach care. She wanted it one way, we were taught another, I lost some points

Up Vote Up Vote ×

my instructor didn't really know what tell us. she told us to be creative.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac.

How do you break sterile technique by testing the balloon? I'm all sterile when I do that..

I've found balloons that haven't passively deflated, so I'll never not check the balloon.

Leave the syringe intact, don't use the diamond holed paper.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
i have another question. you know how you insert the catheter while you use a sterile sheet that has a diamon cut in the middle to provide for privacy, when is that sheet removed? if it's removed after the foley is inserted, doyou cut it? :nurse:

the contents inside the foley catheter insertion kit are sterile. that "sterile sheet that has a diamon(d) cut in the middle" is called a fenestrated drape and it is a sterile drape that creates a sterile field for you to place that sterile equipment upon. sterile to sterile maintains sterility. the fenestration (opening) is for you to have access through the sterile field to the area of the body (in this case, the urinary meatus) in order to perform the procedure. the drape is removed after the procedure is completed--after the foley has been inserted.

since this thread was started, these websites with videos of foley catheterization were discovered and posted on the any good iv therapy or nursing procedure web sites sticky thread (post #20):

if it's removed after the foley is inserted, do you cut it?

the drape can be torn away very easily by tearing it with your fingers. this is done after the catheter has been inserted and the balloon inflated.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

We were told to leave the syringe attached.

As for the diamond-cut drape, we were told that those were for male patients. But they never really had us practice cathing "male" dummies, because they said that if we could cath a female, then we could cath a male, no problem. I THINK that they said that we would tear the drape off if used, though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

As future professionals you need to use the appropriate terminology. It's a fenestrated drape. Large fenestrated drapes are also used or created in the OR when a patient is prepared for surgery.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
We were told to leave the syringe attached.

As for the diamond-cut drape, we were told that those were for male patients. But they never really had us practice cathing "male" dummies, because they said that if we could cath a female, then we could cath a male, no problem. I THINK that they said that we would tear the drape off if used, though.

Wait til you hit the prostate :banghead:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ED, PACU.

From my understanding the newer Foley's have pretested balloons, making the testing of the balloon an unessential step.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I never used to test the balloon; but when I moved to the ER, I started in. 3 caths later there was a problem with the catheterization. Fortunately, since I tested the balloon I knew that wasn't the problem!

I leave the syringe on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We were also taught to leave it attached. I asked the question about disconnecting and reconnecting... The example was put to me in question form... "how do you uncap a syringe full of saline with only one hand and re-insert it into the catheter, because at that point in the process, you should already have one hand on the patient (which you must leave in place or re-clean). Does that make sense?

My feeling... Leave it attached, one less step and better to be safe than to contaminate....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion