What would you do if...

[greenfaery]

...A patient needed a foley inserted, but lying on her back is extremely painful (but she is fine on her side)? Would you have her lie on her back anyway while inserting the catheter? I ask because I had to witness a classmate do this in clinical today, and she insisted the pt lie on her back, so she screamed in agony the whole time. It seemed wrong to me.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I used to have to cath a patient whose legs were too contracted to allow proper access in a supine position. So I'd cath her the way she was lying, on her side, with her legs up. It made the process go much easier because she was comfortable enough to relax.

I'm sure it's OK as long as you maintain sterility.