Providing Catheter Care Performance Checklist

Providing Catheter Care

Check care plan for direction and client needs. Perform hand hygiene. Apply gloves. Assess the client’s status before undertaking the activity. Explain the procedure to the client. Provide for privacy.

Collect the following items for perineal care:

• Gloves
• Waterproof pad
• Catheter clamp
• Leg bag, if using

Raise bed to a comfortable working height. Empty drainage bag and note color, consistency and amount of urine (measure).

Lower the bed rail near you. Cover the person with a blanket. Drape the person for perineal care. Place the waterproof pad under the buttocks. Perform perineal care.

Apply soap to a clean, wet washcloth. Clean the catheter from the meatus down the catheter about 10 cm using one stroke. Do not tug or pull on the catheter. Repeat as needed with a clean area of the washcloth. Use a clean washcloth if needed.

Rinse the catheter. Rinse from the meatus down the catheter about 10 cm (4 inches), using one stroke. Do not tug or pull on the catheter. Repeat as needed with a clean area of the washcloth. Use a clean washcloth if needed.

Secure the catheter. Coil and secure tubing. Remember to keep catheter lower than the bladder. Secure drainage bag to bed.

Change to leg bag: Clamp the catheter, let urine drain from below the clamp site into the drainage tubing. Place the waterproof pad under the leg. Disconnect the catheter from the drainage tubing. Do not let anything touch the ends. Wipe the end of the catheter and leg bag tubing with an antiseptic wipe if contaminated. Connect the tubing into the catheter. Secure the leg bag to the client’s leg. Apply sterile cap to catheter drainage bag. Discard the old drainage bag per agency policy.

Applying and removing a condom catheter: follow the first four steps. Apply gloves.

• To remove: remove the tape and roll condom off the penis and discard. Provide perineal care.
• To apply: Remove the backing from condom. Roll the condom onto the penis leaving a 1-inch space between condom and catheter. Secure condom with the tape from the package (elastic tape), applying in a spiral and not completely around penis. Connect to drainage bag.

Return the bed to its lowest position. Replace bed rails.

Perform hand hygiene. Provide for safety and comfort. Tidy area.

Clean and return equipment to its proper place. Discard disposable items.

Report and record observations according to agency policy.