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:

  1. Knock on the patient’s door, and then enter

  2. Greet the patient by name, introduce yourself, and what you are doing

  3. Provide for privacy by shutting curtains

  4. Wash your hands

  5. Check patient’s ID to confirm identity

  6. Gather supplies and linens, and place on a towel-covered tray table

  7. Fill each cleaning basin with 1 inch of water

  8. Place 2 washcloths in each basin

  9. Check the temperature with your wrist

  10. Put on gloves

  11. Cover each basin with a washcloth to keep the temperature warm

  12. Have the patient roll to the side slightly

  13. Remove old Chux pad and place a clean one underneath the patient

  14. Have the patient roll in opposite direction to ensure the Chux pad is in place

  15. Place a towel over the naval area to expose as little skin as possible

  16. 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

  17. Lather soap into the washcloth from the cleaning basin

  18. 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)

  19. Change washcloths by removing the clean washcloth from the basin and placing the dirty one in it

  20. The catheter tube has 4 sections: A top left, a top right, a bottom left, and a bottom right

  21. Always hold the catheter like you are pinching it

  22. Place the catheter tube 2 inches before the vagina with your index and thumb

  23. NEVER PULL OR APPLY PRESSURE ON THE CATHETER

  24. Clean the tube down and away from the patient

  25. After each section switch position on the washcloth

  26. Repeat all steps with the cloth from the rinse basin

  27. Pat dry using different sections of the dry hand towel in same sequence as above

  28. Remove dirty, damp Chux pad using same roll process as above, and throw away

  29. Replace with a new Chux pad, making sure to always keep the patient covered

  30. Pour all water into the toilet, rinse with scalding water two times and dump

  31. Pat dry with a paper towel and store using a barrier paper towel

  32. Place dirty linens in hamper

  33. Wipe sink area, take off gloves, and wash hands

  34. Ask the patient how they would like the head of their bed

  35. 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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