Helpful Hints: Female Patient Urinary Catheter Insertion

I'm a newbie student nurse. I will be testing on urinary catherization today in lab, although not on a human at this point. I appreciate your posting. Not sure what "winking" is, but I have an idea.

I also had a urologist teach me to "intubate a bladder" by using a finger akin to the "scope" - since the urinary meatus is directly in line with the clitoris.cheers,

Sounds like penis' are much easier...lol....see men are good for some things!!!

thanks' I tried it out, it really helps.

Let me just say that in maternity, where sometimes the vision is totally obscurred by edema, these tips are great...Thank you

Thanks.Great advice that is very practical. So few female patients have text book anatomy. It has been my experience that the meatus is often located in the proximal upper vaginal wall. This is a great technique to improve on catheter insertion.Sincerely,carrmichael3

Wow,I have also had a good insertion rate so to speak. But I learned from this if I miss on try one to keep the catheter there and try again. Every few years I will miss and have never thought to leave the first one in to show me where not to go. It really does make a difference when you angle slightly upwards. Thank you for this posting.Callinurse

winking totally works!I did it in Maternity, which is crazy difficult because everything has edema and hard to get to down there, especialy when they are bigger ladies! It's an obvious wink when you wipe it with betadine... I'm so glad that other people know this trick :wink2:

HiI have also had this problem and whether due to aging or childbirth causing prolapse of the vaginal canal, anatomical issues or disease related, it can be extermely difficult to successfully catheterize the patient.I have had several which using the thumb to retract did not work due to the meatus being hidden farther into the vagina. I have found positioning the patient on their side with the top leg slightly elevated by a support or an assistant works best, if the patient's condition allows. It may be too painful for a post op or back injury such as sciatica or disc. This position gives much better visualization, access and ability to insert in a downward motion rather than the elusive upward (which is where the meatus ends up so insertion is mostly blind) making it less likely to place the catheter into the vagina.Personally, I think all females should be catheterized this way unless their condition prevents this positioning. There would be more success with first attempts and possibly less infection and traumaThanksPattc

I have not ever catheterized another person, but did self cath for over 17 years. Never though to leave the incorrectly placed catheter in until correctly placed. Great idea. Always had to cath in the bathroom, never thought to cath laying down, I was taught to self-cath in a sitting position. In the beginning, a mirror was a very necessary item in my kit.Thank God for Medtonic's Interstim device for neurogenic bladders - no longer cathing! Thanks everyone for your input.

Hi.i know this is a really old thread but I need to contact hellllo nurse who started this thread. Its to do with an old post they made a few years ago and it could really help me.is there any way I can get in contact with them please?thank you

Thanks for these hints! I had such a hard time last week with an older lady... she had a broken hip so it made moving her to an easier position for me difficult. She thought it was hilarious I had a hard time finding her urinary meatus and didn't realize there was more than one "hole", LOL... good thing she was such a good sport!