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© 2013 Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates
Sheldon, P. (2013). Successful intermittent self-catheterization teaching: One nurse's strategy of how and what to teach. Urologic Nursing, 33(3), 113-117. doi:10.7257/1053-816X.2013.33.3.113
Learning how to perform intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) can be a daunting task for the patient with a newly diagnosed voiding dysfunction. The nurse can facilitate this learning process by working with the patient until knowledge and confidence is gained to successfully perform self-catheterization. Teaching ISC requires a knowledgeable and skilled nurse who can recognize the patient's physical and psychological readiness; instruct the patient in anatomy, physiology, and the disease process, as well as guide the patient through the procedure. With a comprehensive teaching program, the patient is empowered to care for his or her own urologic health and accomplish an important step in regaining independence. This article describes one nurse's strategy for teaching patients to become confident and competent in performing ISC.
Key Words: Bladder management, neurogenic bladder, intermittent selfcatheterization, patient teaching, adult learning.
Objectives:
1. Define intermittent self-catheterization (ISC).
2. Explain the benefits to patients when using ISC rather than long-term indwelling catheterization.
3. Discuss the role of urologic nurses when their patients choose ISC as a means of treatment.
4. Identify key strategies urologic nurses can employ when teaching patients about managing their ISC.
5. List resources for ISC that urologic nurses can share with their patients.
Bladder management is an important aspect of overall health and well-being. Many patients who sustain spinal cord injuries, as well as other neurologic diseases, en - counter bladder issues that interfere with the natural emptying of urine from the bladder. Occa - sionally, overactive symptoms, such as frequency and urgency, can be managed with medication and behavior modification. How - ever, problems encountered with urinary retention or incomplete bladder emptying may require catheterization to empty the bladder.
Intermittent self-catheterization (ISC), instead of long-term indwelling catheterization, is accepted as the preferred method to empty the bladder in patients with retention secondary to neurogenic bladder. ISC involves placing a catheter in the bladder to drain urine then removing the catheter when the bladder is empty. This method of bladder management was introduced by Dr. Lapides in the early 1970s and consists of emptying the bladder at timed intervals,...