Indwelling catheter care: dispelling the misconceptions.
Long-term indwelling catheters often are incorrectly used and managed. Nurses insert and manage catheters, yet studies have shown that most nurses have limited scientific knowledge in the area of catheters and their care. This article will review the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guidelines for recommended catheter use and suggest troubleshooting tips for catheter-related problems. The problems of infection, catheter selection and size, urinary leakage, encrustation, catheter blockage, and inadvertent catheter removal will be addressed. Patient and caregiver education tips also will be listed.
Evans
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University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, USA.
D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States; D016270:United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*