Changing Urinary catheters

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I discovered the other day that my facility does not have a policy on changing catheters. So guess what I have to do?!

Trouble is, my old assumptions do not appear to hold any water (no that was not an intended pun). I always thought that the catheter had to be changed q month. Does anyone have any links or info to help me find current guidelines? Thanks in advance.

:)

mustangsheba

499 Posts

The policy in all the home health agencies I've worked for was to change q. month and prn. Some require more frequent changes especially if the urine chronically has a lot of sediment or other debris. Supra-pubic catheters the same. I always change when starting treatment for a UTI or any time it starts looking really grody. But always every month.

Home Health Columnist / Guide

NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN

10 Articles; 18,306 Posts

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

WOCN Clinical Fact Sheet on indwelling catheters

http://www.wocn.org/PDF/C_INDCAT.pdf

Ten Tips for Foley Catheter Use & Care : includes link CEU article

http://nursing.about.com/library/weekly/aa062001a.htm

England: Indwelling urethral catheters.

http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk/archives/vol15-46/pdfs/p4753v15w46.pdf

Google search for INDWELLING URINARY CATHETER MANAGEMENT

http://www.google.com/search?q=indwelling+URINARY+CATHETER+%2B++Nursing+MANAGEMENT+%2B+NURSING+PROCEDURE&hl=en&start=0&sa=N

NIH: Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube Care

http://www.cc.nih.gov/nursing/nephros.html

Cubby

305 Posts

Thank you to all. I appreciate the info!!

micro, RN

1,173 Posts

sheila c-----------

where do you work that they don't have a urinary catheter policy in place already...................

all yes, that i have worked with either foley or suprapubic is q mo. and prn..........................

sheila c----------they must need you bad..........and you will do them good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just don't burn yourself out.........

Momma_Penguin

62 Posts

Our facility's policy... change q 4 to 6 weeks and prn... and most of the time it is hitting the last waning hours of the 6 th week. Laura LPN

SICU Queen

543 Posts

Specializes in SICU.

I've always heard q 1 month and PRN...

Have fun writing that policy, lol... :eek:

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