The nurse is caring for a patient who has urinary retention resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The patient requires catheterization in order to drain the urine from his bladder. Which action will the nurse take to facilitate this procedure?
A) Obtain a Coudé catheter for insertion.
B) Attach a leg bag to the catheter prior to insertion.
C) Trim the pubic hair before cleaning the perineal area.
D) Wait until the bladder is full to perform catheterization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A Coudé catheter is used when there is narrowing or constriction of the urethra, making insertion of a regular indwelling catheter difficult. The Coudé catheter has a special tip on the end that is designed to facilitate insertion of the catheter through the narrowed urethra caused by BPH. Coudé catheters may need to be placed using a metal wire introducer. Placement using an introducer typically is performed by a provider or the patient's urologist, to avoid damaging urethral tissue. Trimming the pubic hair will not facilitate catheterization. Attaching a leg bag to the catheter prior to insertion is not needed because a bedside collection bag will usually be used at first.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Has Urinary