I recently saw a 77 year-old Latina woman with complaints of strong urinary urgency resulting in incontinence, frequency every 2 hours with nocturia x4. She described urgency as “pressure in my bladder.” She reported that her symptoms were “terrible.” Her symptoms were longstanding but appeared to be worsening. She had undergone lumbar spinal fusion 18 months ago, her third back surgery. This was about the time symptoms worsened.
Diane K. Newman, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN is an Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Co-Director of the Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health. She is the author of several books. The most recent is as lead editor of the 1st edition of the SUNA Core Curriculum for Urologic Nursing and of Clinical Application of Urologic Catheters, Devices and Products.
Nurse-Driven CAUTI Prevention: Saving Lives, Preventing Harm and Lowering Cost. Key Practice Strategies to Reduce CAUTI: 1) Fewer Catheters Used, 2) Timely Removal and 3) Insertion, Maintenance, and Post-Removal Care. Informed by Guidelines for Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CDC, 2017).
This guide and the appended tools are designed to support implementation of evidence-based practices and elimination of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in your hospital unit.
An external catheter is used by a man to collect urine that leaks from the bladder (called “urinary incontinence”). These catheters are also called “urisheath or sheath” or “condom” or “Texas” catheters. This catheter is used on the outside of the body. It fits over the penis and connects to a drainage bag.
