How to Put a Catheter in a Female:
Supplies:
1 Hand Towel
6 Washcloths
2 Towels
2 Basins
2 Chux Pads
1 Pair of Gloves
Soap
Steps:
Knock on the patient’s door, and then enter
Greet the patient by name, introduce yourself, and what you are doing
Provide for privacy by shutting curtains
Wash your hands
Check patient’s ID to confirm identity
Gather supplies and linens, and place on a towel-covered tray table
Fill each cleaning basin with 1 inch of water
Place 2 washcloths in each basin
Check the temperature with your wrist
Put on gloves
Cover each basin with a washcloth to keep the temperature warm
Have the patient roll to the side slightly
Remove old Chux pad and place a clean one underneath the patient
Have the patient roll in opposite direction to ensure the Chux pad is in place
Place a towel over the naval area to expose as little skin as possible
Check water temperature in the cleaning basin with wrist and make sure to place your dry wrist on barrier towel to avoid contact with supplies
Lather soap into the washcloth from the cleaning basin
Using the 4-corner technique: Clean one side of the labia, change position on the cloth, clean the other side of the labia, change position on cloth, and clean the meatus (middle)
Change washcloths by removing the clean washcloth from the basin and placing the dirty one in it
The catheter tube has 4 sections: A top left, a top right, a bottom left, and a bottom right
Always hold the catheter like you are pinching it
Place the catheter tube 2 inches before the vagina with your index and thumb
NEVER PULL OR APPLY PRESSURE ON THE CATHETER
Clean the tube down and away from the patient
After each section switch position on the washcloth
Repeat all steps with the cloth from the rinse basin
Pat dry using different sections of the dry hand towel in same sequence as above
Remove dirty, damp Chux pad using same roll process as above, and throw away
Replace with a new Chux pad, making sure to always keep the patient covered
Pour all water into the toilet, rinse with scalding water two times and dump
Pat dry with a paper towel and store using a barrier paper towel
Place dirty linens in hamper
Wipe sink area, take off gloves, and wash hands
Ask the patient how they would like the head of their bed
Place the call button in the patient’s hand and close the curtains
4-Corner Cleaning Method:
Tips for the 4-Corner Method:
Your index finger will always be occupying a corner in the cloth.
After that corner is dirty switch to another clean corner, while grabbing and holding the dirty corners in your palm
Never let the clean corners touch the dirty corners
Only use 1 hand, never use your other hand to change
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