Urostomy Irrigation

[matthewandrew, NP]

My patient had a urostomy (to a neobladder) connected to a urinary bag to gravity. Correct me if I'm wrong but if you're opening the closed system to irrigate the catheter, isn't it a sterile procedure? I can't seem to find a good reliable source to support this online. My coworkers have been using clean gloves and I don't think it's best practice.

Also, would it be wise to retrieve an order to aspirate the catheter? I Remember in nursing school that we should just let it drain...

I tried to find my hospital's policy/procedure on this but I could not find one. You're knowledge and experience would be highly appreciated! Thanks!

Matthew, RN

[matthewandrew, NP]

Any WOC/urology/oncology nurses out there?

Matthew, RN

[rncat2000]

I always thought it was but I have watched our urology surgeons and residents do just a clean procedure. I guess the best thing to do is check your policy and if that doesn't tell you anything check with your doctors to see how they want it done.

[matthewandrew, NP]

I always thought it was but I have watched our urology surgeons and residents do just a clean procedure. I guess the best thing to do is check your policy and if that doesn't tell you anything check with your doctors to see how they want it done.

Thank you for your reply! I'm guessing though they're being sloppy and they don't wanna get sterile gloves! LOL

Matthew, RN

[tokebi]

I don't think it should require sterile gloves. I never have. Of course we want to keep what goes in sterile, but no need for the entire process to be a sterile procedure. Think of how we access IV lines. It is a closed system but we do not wear sterile gloves every time we inject something into the IV line. We just clean the port really well, and maintain the sterility of whatever goes inside.