Today I was talking to an agency nurse that frequents my ward about how hard it is sometimes to place a condom catheter properly, especially on older gentlemen!!! She said what she sometimes does is explain to the man (if his member is small in length) it can be easier placed if he makes himself slightly erect, and she would leave the room, and then come back and place it back on.
Now, whilst I was studying nursing, I used to work in a sexual health clinic and when we did urethral swabs of the member it was explained to the man it was more effective and less painful if he was erect at the time, and we left the room and allowed for that to occur, and came back. It was needed.
But for a condom catheter on a ward, is this appropriate? I feel it is not. Thank goodness it's a rare occurrence.
And no one person suggests that you ask the man if he might feel more comfortable if a male nurse did the procedure.
Maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he would. How would you know? Ask. I know. I know. There's nothing to be ashamed about.
Oh? Well, let the patient decided what there's to be embarrassed or ashamed about and the best way to mitigate that
embarrassment. This is the double standard and the entitlement attitude that some people refer to -- "I'm a nurse so I'm just entitled to do this or that to him or her because I'm qualified." Let the patient make some of these decisions based upon their comfort level.
I use the skin prep swabs... gives a sticky surface to grab onto the condom cath so it won't slip off as easily, protects the delicate skin, using a downward motion sweeps any stray hairs out of the way... which also straightens out the shaft. I've never had a member get erect from this, but it really, really helps get the sucker on and STAY on.
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
i'm no prude...a member is a member, and eve
i beg to differ, many moons ago while working 3-11 shift i had one of my colleagues called me to assist her on placing a condom-cath on a particular pt. however, i'm not trying to be funny but this pt. had what it looked like an extra belly button for a member. needless to say after the entire male/female staff gave their opinion on how to place it and all else failed, :uhoh21: we finally decided to informed the doctor regarding the issue on hand ( no pun intended).
GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN
2,117 Posts
hmmm... wait for it~