Foley catheters

[Chatuge]

Could someone tell me where I could find the current guidelines on when to change a Foley catheter. I recently read that it is changed only when it is no longer functioning, such as clogged.

Unfortunately, I threw out the article, and now a colleague is looking for the information. I cannot remember where I read it and cannot find it anywhere else. Is there a different guideline when it is a home health patient? Thanks.

[night owl]

I'm not sure about the home health pt., but in our LTC facility we change our foleys q30 days whether it needs it or not unless of course it becomes blocked and needs changing before hand.

[night owl]

on the other hand, it would make sense to change it only when it must be changed like when clogged. I mean why take a chance for introducing infection if you really don't have to. Right?

[mustangsheba]

When I worked home health, we changed catheters q30d. and learned which ones might go bad sooner. Otherwise, we would be called at all hours of the day and night to replace nonfunctioning catheters. It is much more cost effective to use preventive measures. I didn't get the name "catheter queen" for nothing.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

In my earlier years I did some HHN. I think it was 3 weeks for latex and 4-6 weeks for silastic.

My nick was Annie Oakley! I hit the bullseye every time.

My dear mother in law has had several cva's and 2 PE's. She became very ill and lethargic even though her "home health nurse" assured me that "it was just the effects of the strokes....."

Hey you don't tell ME that. I called the doc...she was unconcerned....so we took her to the ER (different hospital) from where her doc practiced.

Fortunately the attending there RESPECTED NURSES OPINIONS! He asked me what *I* thought was the problem....I said....hmmm old lady, confused suddenly...... UTI y'think?

Yep. Urine was so thick that the lab called back to verify it really was PEE! Looked more like cream of wheat than urine.

OK we got her admitted for abx etc....she had a foley and was to be transferred back home with it to await a bed in the ecf......well....guess what.....when we met the ambulance.....hmmmm NO FOLEY......

Someone took it out. No documentation, no paper trail no nothing.

Now you will find this hard to believe, the "home health nurse" (said facetiously) hadn't EVER inserted one before. She was a temp. who was an occupational health manager in the daytime.

So deadeye P here did it. I also had a word of prayer with the agency's DON the next day. The UTI resolved, the cath was removed......and happily ever after...... oh and guess what.....

She isn't confused anymore, she is in a lovely facility, and they call us to ask advice......hmmm think I have a REPUTATION THERE?

My first choice is no foley. In and out minimally. I realize that is not often possible. I really refer to acute rather than longterm.

Next would be pads....next I guess would have to be a foley.

Anyway.....good topic.