Contents
1 Aim
To provide colleagues with best practice guidelines for performing female catheterisation.
2 Scope
This procedure applies to all clinical colleagues working in both the Doncaster mental health care group and Doncaster physical health care group of RDaSH who deliver and provide continence and catheter care to adult patients over the age of 18. For colleagues working in Rotherham and Scunthorpe, they will need to refer to their local guidelines.
It is recognised that primary care practitioners are also part of the organisation and as such this policy is offered for use by them to adapt to their own practices and organisations as appropriate.
The author of the policy is available to offer help and support to primary care practitioners who wish to use and implement this policy.
As part of good employment practice, whilst undertaking work for the trust. Agency workers are also required to abide by the trust policies and procedures, as appropriate, to ensure their health, safety and welfare.
3 Link to overarching policy
3.1 Links to relevant policies or procedures
4 Procedure
4.1 Female catheterisation
First time female catheterisation must only be performed by a qualified registered general nurse including nurse associate or non-registered healthcare professional who is required to undertake catheterisation as part of their role and has had catheter training.
Catheters should only be used after all alternatives have been considered. Therefore, it is essential that a urethral catheterisation assessment is performed before carrying out the catheterisation procedure. Reason for catheterisation must be clearly documented within the catheter integrated pathway of care (IPOC) within SystmOne and catheter passport. Please refer to appendix H for urethral catheterisation assessment guidance.
4.2 Risk of catheterisation
Using any form of catheterisation has associated risks. Therefore it is essential that a risk assessment is an integral part of catheter care. Please refer to appendix I for risk assessment.
4.3 Choice of catheter and catheter equipment
Female patients are usually catheterised with a standard length catheter first, however the patient may then choose to have a female length catheter for discretion and comfort.
Choice of catheter and equipment used must be clearly documented within the catheter IPOC within SystmOne and catheter passport.
Please refer to appendix J for choice of Catheter and equipment.
4.4 Female re-catheterisation
Band 3 healthcare assistants who have attended the female re-catheterisation study day provided by the specialist continence service and have completed the relevant clinical skills package may perform simple female re-catheterisation on uncomplicated female patients who have been assessed by qualified nurse.
4.5 How to perform female catheterisation
Please see urinary catheterisation, female, Royal Marsden manual (opens in new window).
4.6 How to remove a catheter
Please see urinary catheter removal, Royal Marsden manual (opens in new window).
4.7 Documentation
The catheter integrated pathway of care (IPOC) found within SystmOne provides a framework for best practice and follows Royal College of Nursing (RCN) guidelines for nurses on catheter care (2021). The IPOC supports the assessment process and should be followed by the healthcare practitioner to meet all the clinical and legal requirements for record keeping.
Each individual patient or carers should be given a “my catheter passport” document. This document provides the patient with written information about their catheter management (please see appendix P).
There are 2 distinct sections within the passport, patient and clinical. The patient section supports effective care of the catheter in order to reduce the risk of infection and the clinical section includes essential information around the catheterisation itself and should contain the plan of care, reason for catheterisation and plans for trial without catheter. There is also a catheter maintenance section which can be completed by the health care professional, carer or patient themselves.
5 References
6 Appendices
- Appendix H Urethral catheterisation assessment guidance
- Appendix I Risk assessment
- Appendix J Choice of catheter and equipment
- Appendix P My catheter passport
Please see the trusts’ continence manual where these appendices can be viewed or downloaded.
Document control
- Version: 3.
- Unique reference number: 515.
- Approved by: Clinical policies review and approval group.
- Date approved: 12 November 2024.
- Name of originator or author: Continence specialist sister.
- Name of responsible individual: Chief nurse.
- Date issued: 21 November 2024.
- Review date: 30 November 2027.
- Target audience: All clinical colleagues working in both the Doncaster mental health care group and Doncaster physical health and neurodiversity care group of the trust who deliver and provide continence and catheter care to adult patients over the age of 18. For colleagues working in Rotherham and Scunthorpe, they will need to refer to their local guidelines.
Page last reviewed: November 21, 2024
Next review due: November 21, 2025
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