Scared to death of doing a foley insertion.

yetanotheramanda · Feb 25, 2009

Well, all I can say is that it isn't as bad as you seem to be making it out to be. Not fun, but not that bad either. Maybe you could volunteer to take some out just to ease yourself into it.

We have an instructor who says "feel the fear...do it anyway." That has gotten me through so far...I hope it works for you.

Good luck!

flightnurse2b, LPN · Feb 25, 2009

we all have our thing.

i hate feet. ew.

anyways, you'll be alright. my advice to you is to go ahead and just ask if you can see the skill on video and practice the lab on the dummy at school. then, go with your instructor and/or preceptor to watch one being inserted into a patient. just watch. if you get sick, it's ok. just breathe, brush yourself off and keep facing it until you feel more comfortable.

good luck!

chaxanmom · Feb 25, 2009

Put in a flexiseal. After that a foley will be a piece of cake!

Couture85 · Feb 25, 2009

I haven't done one before and I have to admit that I'm a little anxious about it too. I think it's true that we all have our thing that gets us a little weirded out. The thing that helps me when I get super nervous is to accept that I'm feeling what I'm feeling and knowing that this moment will pass. Also, just get super familiar with it and trust yourself with the skill. That might at least help ease your anxiety. Sure, it might make you feel sick, but what if you're the best at the skill? Boosting your confidence might help you be able to brush off those bad feelings.

NursingRocks1998 · Feb 25, 2009

I just inserted my first foley in clinicals yesterday, on a male patient. I was so nervous....everything I practiced felt like it flew out of my head- I muddled through- luckily the patient was so patient and very laid-back about it (plus he was too preoccupied with trying to breathe comfortably) With the first kit, I dropped the tip of the foley as I was trying to place it in the lube- it didn't fall on the floor, but of course it fell off the edge of the table. My awesome clinical instructor went to get another one, and our unit was OUT, so it took her what seemed like forever to return. When she finally returned, I opened the new kit, put on the new gloves (which she had to help me with since my hands were all sweaty!) and just inserted it- it was not nearly as bad as a I imagined- I was scared of inflicting so much pain, but he really didn't seem to be in too much pain and it went pretty quickly. I felt like such an uncoordinated fool. Today I mentioned to my instructor that I hope I get to do it again before clinicals are over, so I can be a little better at it- I told her how I felt and she said not to worry about it- she says people often need to grab another kit and they get dropped- it just takes practice. Good luck to you- I know how you feel- you will only feel better once you actually do it- try to look at it as a new opportunity to gain a skill- I'd rather learn it in school than have the first one be on a patient after I'm licensed!! Keep us posted-you'll get through it!!

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2009

I remember when I was in nursing school being a little nervous the first time I had to do a straight cath (it didn't help that the patient was a combative dementia patient). However, since then, it's become something that I actually look forward too as a challange. There's a bit of thrill in being able to get the foley catheter in and get urine on the first try (especially on a female). One thing that I was told when I was in school that helped was remembering, for a female, if you do get it in the wrong hole, it's ok, the patient should feel much discomfort if you get it in her lady parts. Sometimes you'll get lucky and have patients that straight cath at home and they can do it better than you can. Good luck!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Feb 25, 2009

I remember those days. Guess what? I worked on Pedi's where every urinary meatus was tiny tiny tiny. Believe me, I got over that fear when I had a few successes under my belt. When you are in clinicals tell the charge nurse you want to assist a staff nurse doing this - seeing it done helps a lot.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 25, 2009

I remember those days. Guess what? I worked on Pedi's where every urinary meatus was tiny tiny tiny. Believe me, I got over that fear when I had a few successes under my belt. When you are in clinicals tell the charge nurse you want to assist a staff nurse doing this - seeing it done helps a lot.

I got to help insert one in a 1 day old. After that, doing any Foley seems easy :)

I cringed at my first one too. But the more you do of them, the easier they get and the better you're able to handle them.

itsmyturn · Feb 25, 2009

The more you do, the easier they get. My first one was on a smiling, very volunteering male who asked " would you like for me to hold it for you?" Then I did one on an elderly woman who was sitting in a chair. After that, I got over the patient reaction and went on. After all, the faster you learn, the faster you can pull those covers up! It won't be long and you will be long and nothing will phase you.

allnurses Guide · Feb 25, 2009

Also, if you do miss on a female and get the wrong hole, leave it in while you try the new catheter - serves as a landmark to avoid.

It is a bit of a thrill to strike gold! But then, I'm easily amused.. hehe

Nurse Allison · Feb 26, 2009

I did my first Foley two weeks ago on clinicals in the PCU unit. I gave my patient Lasix in the morning and she wasnt peeing, so I thought hmmm, somethings up here :uhoh3: I got the bladder scanner an sure enough this woman was holding 1000 cc's. OMG, I ran and got my professor, and had everything prepped in my sterile field. I was nervous wreck. To top it all off this woman could not bend her knees, and her right hip was externally rotated. I had another nurse prop up the knees with pillows So there's my professor breathing down my neck. Of course you must inspect for the landmark first. Well let me tell ya, were all put together a little different down there. At first I thought the privy parts was the landmark. No, No go south my professor tells me. I held my breath, realizing once I was commited I was commited, in it went yahooo!!!! My professor was thrilled, first attempt. Now, the funny part, I went to attach the syringe and started to fill the balloon but the syringe was not connected tight enough, and there went the saline all over my professors face!!! OMG!!!! :bugeyes: I almost died. I wasnt a big deal, I tightened it and finished the job. :bowingpur

What a day!