I hate Sim Man's Genitals!

[Zooey72]

I am a second semester nursing student and I am dreading the first catheter I have to do on a real person. I feel completely unprepared to do it (I may feel better after I see someone at clinical do it on a real person). I know how based off of Sim Man, but sim man sucks! On Sim Man, his urethra looks like the opening to a cave (FYI, if a man has a urethra that looks like that he has major issues lol), and I could probably get a water hose down there if I wanted to. Sim Woman has the opposite problem to where you can't get the stupid thing in there. This is not just me, the dean of nursing could not get the darn thing in 'her'.

I know I am going to get to see it done on a real person before I have to do it myself. I would actually like to see it several times to be honest. I also would like to have someone watch me the first few times I do it to make sure everything is ok. That being said, the whole things makes me nervous as hell. We, as well as the patient, know that it is just something that needs to be done; but it is hard to seem nonchalant about it when you are nervous about your skills to do it.

My wife volunteered to let me practice on her. If I get the stuff do you think that may be a good idea? As for the male, I could always try and do it to myself. The point of view may be different, but it would give me a better general idea (and a bit more confidence about it).

My school has brand new equipment. Other than the catheter sim man is a great learning tool (NG tube can be a pain some times, but is doable). Any suggestions as to how I can get my skills better?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

First off, love the nursing responses on this. The fact any of you are allowed around patients says a lot.

Just because you don't agree with the responses you're getting doesn't mean you need to resort to name-calling.

Where would I get the equipment? I have already BOUGHT it. They came my first semester as part of my school supplies. The fact that you thought of stealing before anything else shows that someone made a mistake when they gave you access to drugs.

School supplies are meant to be used for school. Practicing on your wife or yourself is not school, and I highly doubt the school would approve of it. And again, no need to attack those responding.

Self catheterization - male: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Outside of a quick google search, I was taught that people do it at home. Not only that, but when done at home it is clean and not sterile. Now if I am wrong with any of this fine. I have been wrong before, and will be wrong again. However, I made a post because I was worried about not doing a good job once I become an RN. I would prefer not to learn on a dummy (that did not work) before I do something with a live person. If it is the case that you just have to jump in feet first w/o seeing it done, that is fine too, I will adjust. Considering all of the countless head to toes I have done which are not a big deal, touching someone's private parts and just figuring it out as you go along did not seem logical.

Those who self-cath at home have a medical necessity for it and would have gone through extensive education and return demonstration. You are a student; your practice should be through approved methods, such as the simulator and patients with a medical necessity to be cathed where you are guided and watched by an instructor.

[de05432]

Just because you don't agree with the responses you're getting doesn't mean you need to resort to name-calling.

School supplies are meant to be used for school. Practicing on your wife or yourself is not school, and I highly doubt the school would approve of it. And again, no need to attack those responding.

Those who self-cath at home have a medical necessity for it and would have gone through extensive education and return demonstration. You are a student; your practice should be through approved methods, such as the simulator and patients with a medical necessity to be cathed where you are guided and watched by an instructor.

Ditto. They have open labs for a reason. Go in and practice. Please don't give your partner a UTI.

[Zooey72]

The only person being attacked here is me.

And extensive education? While I fully admit I am not comfortable with my skill level at this kind of thing I am willing to bet anything that I have committed more time in lab doing this than someone who has to do it for a medical nec. We spent 3 weeks on urinary, I am sure that is not required of someone who is shown how to do it at home.

As it was explained to me from someone with a PHD (my prof), the reason it is clean at home vs. sterile at the hospital is the same reason that many people who work in hospitals strip naked before entering their own homes. Hospitals are where sick people go.

How To Catheterize Yourself (man) - What You Need to Know

While not a government site like my last one, this even gives pictures as to how to do it to yourself.

Edited to add. I realize I do not have the same experience of someone who has had to do this for 20 years for a medical reason. What I am saying is that I have more experience doing this than someone who has just come home from the hospital and has to do it for the first time.

[de05432]

The only person being attacked here is me.

And extensive education? While I fully admit I am not comfortable with my skill level at this kind of thing I am willing to bet anything that I have committed more time in lab doing this than someone who has to do it for a medical nec. We spent 3 weeks on urinary, I am sure that is not required of someone who is shown how to do it at home.

As it was explained to me from someone with a PHD (my prof), the reason it is clean at home vs. sterile at the hospital is the same reason that many people who work in hospitals strip naked before entering their own homes. Hospitals are where sick people go.

How To Catheterize Yourself (man) - What You Need to Know

While not a government site like my last one, this even gives pictures as to how to do it to yourself.

Okay...so since you know it all, why exactly are you here?

[Ladyscrubs]

This scares me to no end. I am just waiting until the intro to IV's.

[pink_kola91]

Um...don't do it on your wife or yourself for that matter. The supplies they have schools and any supplies you purchase for practicing your skills may not be medical grade. My class thought we could use the IV start kits on each other, only to find out later that they were for "educational use only." Also, if you are unskilled, you could do some serious damage to a person...I'm thinking UTIs, cystitis. Plus, you aren't allowed to perform any of your skills that you are not licensed to do outside a clinical or school environment with a licensed professional there with you.

[Zooey72]

This scares me to no end. I am just waiting until the intro to IV's.

What is scary is that the cookies on my browser seem to know more than you do (with 30+ years experience) since I have been getting advertisements for catheters as I have been writing this.

Fact, some people do self catheter

Fact, I have more experience than someone being sent home from the hospital.

If my school frowns on doing it at home so be it. I really don't know.

Also as far as "extensive medical training goes". If I chose to buy one it is not like I get carded for it. Anyone can buy any number of these devices they want and may have never had the first instruction on how to use it.

I am willing to bet there isn't even a warning on them that says you need training (I don't know that for a fact, but if there were such a warning than it would stand to reason I would not be allowed to purchase them if I wanted to). I am further willing to bet that if they are sold in stores (and I am sure that they are), a 10 year old could buy one and not get carded for it.

In all of your years in nursing you have never met a paraplegic?

Even more than that. I would think at some point in 30+ years of doing this you would have had to of have shown someone how to do this when they get home.

[de05432]

Wow. Someone has a serious attitude problem.

Get an externship and wait until you get more exposure in the field. I can't wait to see the rude awakening and attitude adjustment that you receive.

[Purple_roses]

The only person being attacked here is me.

And extensive education? While I fully admit I am not comfortable with my skill level at this kind of thing I am willing to bet anything that I have committed more time in lab doing this than someone who has to do it for a medical nec. We spent 3 weeks on urinary, I am sure that is not required of someone who is shown how to do it at home.

As it was explained to me from someone with a PHD (my prof), the reason it is clean at home vs. sterile at the hospital is the same reason that many people who work in hospitals strip naked before entering their own homes. Hospitals are where sick people go.

How To Catheterize Yourself (man) - What You Need to Know

While not a government site like my last one, this even gives pictures as to how to do it to yourself.

Edited to add. I realize I do not have the same experience of someone who has had to do this for 20 years for a medical reason. What I am saying is that I have more experience doing this than someone who has just come home from the hospital and has to do it for the first time.

Can I ask why you created this post? Are you just informing us of your intentions and seeking validation? Not one member on this site can support your goal of performing your first actual catheterization on your wife at home. Women also get UTIs much more easily because of how short the urethra is compared to the length of the male urethra.

[Purple_roses]

I am willing to bet there isn't even a warning on them that says you need training .

You are the reason warning labels exist.

[de05432]

You are the reason warning labels exist.

This made me lol

[cocoa_puff]

Oh boy...who wants some popcorn?