Foley Catheters

Nursing Students General Students

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Hey Everyone,

I am starting nursing this fall, and while thinking about the process something just caught my attention.. I am ok with all of the blood, and other aspects of the job, but one thing.. Catheters..

If I'm not comfortable inserting catheters, or doing catheters is nursing the right career for me? Or, would it be ok if I passed on that duty/responsibility to another coworker?

Also, if I were in clinicals and we had to insert catheters and I didn't feel comfortable doing it, could they fail me?

What I'm pretty much saying is, I don't like catheters!

Specializes in CVICU, CCU, MICU.

As a CNA my hospital has us insert foleys so maybe other hospitals use CNA's to insert them. When I worked at a nursing home the nurses inserted them. It's something you will have to get over it normally does not hurt the patient and wouldn't be ordered unless it was needed. Most nurses would not insert if for you because in a hospital it is a common order and they are busy with their own patients. It's something you will have to get over. Maybe if you do it a few times you will get use to it.

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I had to put a Foley in a 600 pound woman, not to mention she was older. Have a goooood powerful flashlight handy if you have to go searching down there.

Amen! my first foley was on a pretty hefty lady, one of my fellow nursing students had to hold the light for me and my prof had to hold her in just the right position. It was an interesting experience

Foley's can be uncomfortable for the patient, but usually at that point they are pretty uncomfortable from whatever else is wrong. Remind them to breathe, use lots of lube, and listen to tips from your clinical instructor. Trust me, it isn't too bad at all and it is nice to watch the patient's relief after their bladder begins to empty. Many patients have foley's, so you will probably get used to it pretty quickly. I have a severe fear of vomit (sometimes it can send me into panic attack mode, I am not kidding), and after being on the units and hearing the retching (and seeing it sometimes too), I'm already getting more used to it. We all have procedures/nursing duties we don't like, they can seem pretty barbaric after all, but we will get used to it and it really does help the patient in the long run!:nurse:

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Amen! my first foley was on a pretty hefty lady, one of my fellow nursing students had to hold the light for me and my prof had to hold her in just the right position. It was an interesting experience
I use a headlamp on the ones that I have trouble seeing. It looks silly as heck but it does the trick... I even got the thrashing meth-chick on the first try and there wasn't a hand to spare to hold a light...
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just do it ya wimp.

Im a guy and I had one done to me and it was nothing. A bit uncomfortble and weird but not really a big deal. Kinda fun actually...Ok just kidding but seriously its not a big deal. It looks 1,00000 times worse than it is.

NG tubes? now that ***** nasty.

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I was really squeamish about cathing people when I first started nursing school too. I observed whenever I could, practiced on the dummy many times, then started volunteering to do the procedure. My first job had plenty of opportunites for Foleys, and it didn't take long before I could get the tough ones without a problem.

You'll be fine! Before you know it, you won't even remember why it made you nervous.

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Specializes in Perioperative Patient Care Technician.

You will get so used to it though. You may be very uncomfortable with it at first, but after a while you will do it without a care. Strange as it is I used to be that way about taking patients blood sugars. Something about poking them for blood on their finger just freaked me out. I felt like I was the one being poked. I felt horrible. Now I don't think twice about it, I don't care at all.

Trust me. You will be fine.

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My first foley was during OB in school..it was on a 15 year old pregnant Mexican girl in labor with her mom holding her hand saying "see...this is what you get for doing what you did"

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
Hey Everyone,

I am starting nursing this fall, and while thinking about the process something just caught my attention.. I am ok with all of the blood, and other aspects of the job, but one thing.. Catheters..

If I'm not comfortable inserting catheters, or doing catheters is nursing the right career for me? Or, would it be ok if I passed on that duty/responsibility to another coworker?

Also, if I were in clinicals and we had to insert catheters and I didn't feel comfortable doing it, could they fail me?

What I'm pretty much saying is, I don't like catheters!

you get over it fast. im not crazy about them either..but u gotta do what you gotta do

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Specializes in TRAC UNIT, REHAB, DEMENTIA...ETC.

LmBO SOME OF THESE POST ARE FUNNY

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The stories are great, lol. I was really laughing at the one with the mother telling her daughter this is what you get.. LOL.

Thanks for the input everyone, I'm sure if I practice on the dummies and what not I will get the hang of it!

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Specializes in TRAC UNIT, REHAB, DEMENTIA...ETC.

Now IM EVEN MORE ANXIOUS TO START SCHOOL NXT WED!

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My first foley was during OB in school..it was on a 15 year old pregnant Mexican girl in labor with her mom holding her hand saying "see...this is what you get for doing what you did"

LOL! Great story. I bet my own mother would have reacted the same way. hahaha

To the original poster: I'm in school and I've done 3. It's scary at first, but nursing school is supposed to be scary if you've never done this stuff before!!! Practice, practice, practice. Don't run away from them...be the first one to volunteer if you get a chance to do one; that's the only way your fear will be conquered.

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