ATIQuestions:UrinaryCatheter Care
1.Anurseis assessingapatient’s indwellingurinarycatheterdrainage attheend ofthe
shiftandnotes theoutputis considerablyless thanthefluid intake. Which ofthe
followingactionsshould the nursetakefirst?
a.Irrigatethe catheter
i.Ifthecatheteris blocked,theprovidermighthaveto prescribecatheter
irrigation; however,this is notthefirstactionthe nurseshouldtake.
b.Assess for peripheraledema
i.Assessingthe extremities forperipheraledemais an appropriateaction,
butitis notthefirst actionthenurseshould take.
c.Palpate forbladderdistention
i.Palpatingthe bladderfordistention isan appropriateaction,butitis not
the firstaction thenurseshould take.
d.Check thecatheterforkinks
i.Outputthat is considerablyless than intakeis a signthatthecatheteris
blocked. Thefirstactionthenurseshould takeis to checkthetubingfor
kinksandensure theclient'surineflowis not obstructed.
2.When providingperineal careforafemalepatientwhohas an indwellingurinary
catheter,which of thefollowingareas should thenursecleanse last?
a.Theurethralmeatus
i.The urethralmeatus is thefirstareathe nurseshould cleansewhen giving
perineal care.
b.Thelabiaminora
i.Cleansing theperineumlastwould violateabasic principleofasepsis.
c.Theperineum
i. Cleansingtheperineumlastwould violateabasicprincipleofasepsis.
d. Theanus
i.Thebasicasepticprinciple applicabletoperinealcareis to cleansefrom
theareaofleast contamination totheareathatis the most
contaminated.Theanalareais typicallycontaminated with coliform
bacteriaandshould becleansed last.