Scope of practice

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Trauma.

Hi there..

I have a few questions in regards to foleys. First, is it true that it will no longer be in the scope of practice for RN's to insert a male foley due to the high risk of rupturing the prostate?

Second, who is allowed to insert a foley and is this regulated by state?

Thank you:)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

To answer your first question...I have never heard of this. I am a new grad and we did not learn about this in school. We still put them in male pts at work.

Second....I do believe this may be regulated by your state. I know here Rns, LPNs and nurse techs in the ER can put them in in our facility. I am not sure about anywheres else.

Sorry I was not of much help.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hmm - how in the heck are we rupturing prostrates?? Urban legend perhaps? I know of no state that specifically prohibits this.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Gees, I've put in like a gazillion foley's in the last 11 years, and have yet to rupture a prostate!

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Specializes in Trauma.

Yeh, that's what they are teaching us in nursing school here in NYC. It's interesting the misinformation I have been given:( I heard it was going to be out of the scope of practice for RN's soon because the risk for rupturing an enlarged prostate which risks liability for the RN. I learned very briefly how to insert a male foley. Now I'm a little worried. Why would they tell us that? Hmmm..

is anyone else from NYC getting this same information?

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I guess it must be a NY thing cause I sink at least 5-7 a week in Texas. If you are trained properly on insertion ..where is the risk of rupture. Even if you did inflate at the site of the prostate you would feel some resistance and Im sure your patient would give you a indication. Here everyone puts them in RN's ,LVN's and even some tech's..

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Transplant, Trauma, Surgical.

We just learned foley insertion and checkout on it two weeks ago and our instructors didn't even mention not being able to insert male foleys because of rupturing the prostate, who would do the insert then, doctors? (hahaha!)

As far as who can insert, I beleive that it may be dependent on state as far as who can do the insertion, LPNs may be able to but I don't know I know it is out of the scope of practice for CNAs to do it though.

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Hi there..

I have a few questions in regards to foleys. First, is it true that it will no longer be in the scope of practice for RN's to insert a male foley due to the high risk of rupturing the prostate?

Second, who is allowed to insert a foley and is this regulated by state?

Thank you:)

futile speculations.

anything that starts with "is it true that it will no longer..." means it hasn't happened yet, in which case, No it is not true. Might it come true? yes. But let's worry about it then.

:trout: The psych nurses call this "projecting," LOL!

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Specializes in OB.

hmm. they are still teaching us male and female at my school. Havent heard of this. Heck, we will foley anything that will hold still long enough:D

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Specializes in OB.
We just learned foley insertion and checkout on it two weeks ago and our instructors didn't even mention not being able to insert male foleys because of rupturing the prostate, who would do the insert then, doctors? (hahaha!)

As far as who can insert, I beleive that it may be dependent on state as far as who can do the insertion, LPNs may be able to but I don't know I know it is out of the scope of practice for CNAs to do it though.

maybe it will be a new job position.. Certified Foley Inserter..would you also need a degree in plumbing????!?!?

drs inserting foleys- :lol2:

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
We just learned foley insertion and checkout on it two weeks ago and our instructors didn't even mention not being able to insert male foleys because of rupturing the prostate, who would do the insert then, doctors? (hahaha!)

Ditto here in Missouri....and an aide was putting one in yesterday on a male pt in the hospital where we were located...

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Hi there..

I have a few questions in regards to foleys. First, is it true that it will no longer be in the scope of practice for RN's to insert a male foley due to the high risk of rupturing the prostate?

Second, who is allowed to insert a foley and is this regulated by state?

Thank you:)

Well this begs the question...Who is going to be inserting those foleys then? A doctor who hasn't done one since med school (if then) or a nurse who has done them routinely through nursing school and on the job for years? Out of those two people who do you think has the highest probability of causing trauma to the patient?

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