Question

select all that apply
patients with urinary catheters should be instructed to do which of the following?

□ wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching the catheter

□ avoid kinks or twists in the tubing

□ pull on the tubing daily to ensure its stability

□ ensure the urine collection bag is above the level of the bladder

Explanation:

• For "Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching the catheter": This is a standard infection - control measure. Touching the catheter can introduce bacteria, so handwashing helps prevent infection.
• For "Avoid kinks or twists in the tubing": Kinks or twists in the tubing can obstruct the flow of urine, which can lead to urinary retention or backflow of urine (increasing the risk of infection).
• For "Pull on the tubing daily to ensure its stability": Pulling on the tubing can damage the catheter or the urethra/bladder, so this is incorrect.
• For "Ensure the urine collection bag is above the level of the bladder": If the collection bag is above the bladder level, urine can flow back into the bladder, increasing the risk of urinary tract infection. The bag should be below the bladder level.

Answer:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching the catheter
• Avoid kinks or twists in the tubing