A urinary catheter is a flexible plastic tube that is used to drain urine from the bladder of a person that cannot urinate. A catheter may be needed for certain medical conditions such as an enlarged prostate, problems controlling the release of urine, or even paralysis. Caring for one that has a urinary catheter can be a delicate situation due to the sensitive nature of the issue. Check out the following regulation, provided by CCLD, for how to be compliant with proper care of a urinary catheter:
INDWELLING URINARY CATHETER 87623
(a) The licensee shall be permitted to accept or retain a resident who requires the use of an indwelling catheter under the following circumstances:
(1) If the resident is physically and mentally capable of caring for all aspects of the condition except insertion and irrigation.
(A) Irrigation shall only be performed by an appropriately skilled professional in accordance with the physician’s orders.
(B) A catheter shall only be inserted and removed by an appropriately skilled professional under physician’s orders.
(b) In addition to Section 87611, General Requirements for Allowable Health Conditions, the licensee shall be responsible for the following:
(1) Ensuring that insertion and irrigation of the catheter shall be performed by an appropriately skilled professional.
(2) Ensuring that the bag and tubing are changed by an appropriately skilled professional should the resident require assistance.
(A) The bag may be emptied by facility staff who receive instruction from an appropriately skilled professional.
(B) There shall be written documentation by an appropriately skilled professional outlining the instruction of the procedures delegated and the names of the facility staff who have been instructed.
(C) The licensee shall ensure that the professional reviews staff performance as often as necessary, but at least annually.
(3) Ensuring that waste materials shall be disposed of as specified in Section 87303(f)(1).
(4) Privacy shall be maintained when care is provided.