Proper catheter care is a critical responsibility in any healthcare setting, as it directly impacts a resident’s health, comfort, and safety. Indwelling catheters can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other complications if not maintained with strict hygiene and attention to detail. Routine catheter care helps prevent infection, reduce irritation, and ensure the system is functioning properly. It also provides an opportunity for early detection of issues such as leakage, blockage, or signs of infection. By performing catheter care with precision and respect for the resident’s dignity, caregivers uphold essential standards of quality care and contribute to better health outcomes.

You will need the following to Provide Catheter Care to a Resident: 

• Barrier
• Bath Basin
• Soap
• Gloves
• Privacy Blanket
• 4 Washcloths
• Towel
• Underpad (Chucks)

1. Preparation & Hand Hygiene

• Read and follow the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Knock and announce yourself before entering.
• Greet the Resident by name and introduce yourself.
• Explain the task to the Resident and ensure their comfort and consent.
• Close the Privacy Curtain
• Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning.
• Place Barrier on Bedside Table. 
• Gather your Supplies.
• Place Supplies on Bedside Table.
  
  • Do Not let Supplies touch your Uniform. 
• Assess Glove Rules (Are Gloves required for this Resident?)

2. Positioning Resident

• Ensure Resident is lying flat in the center of the Bed. 
• Retrieve Wash Basin and bring to the sink. 
• Use a paper towel to turn water on. 
• Using your forearm, verify water temperature. 
• Using Warm water, fill Wash Basin.
• Ask Resident to Check Water Temperature.
  • Adjust Temperature accordingly.
• Place Wash Basin on Barrier. 
• Place Washcloths in Wash Basin.
• Cover Resident with Privacy Blanket for Privacy.
  • Do Not Snap or Shake blanket when unfolding.
• Pull Resident’s Sheet underneath Privacy Blanket down around their knee area. 
• Retrieve Barrier, and roll it towards you, and place it on the bed next to Resident. 
• Put your Gloves on. 
• Ask Resident to Scoot towards you. 
• Roll Resident onto their side.
• Watch Catheter Tubing before, during and after roll to ensure it is not snagged or pulled.  
• Unroll Barrier under Resident’s midsection to protect the bed.
• Tuck Barrier under Residents hip. 
• Roll Resident back onto their back.
• Ask Resident to Scoot towards the center of the bed.
• Move to the other side of the bed. 
• Ask Resident to Scoot towards you.
• Roll Resident onto their side. 
• Continue unrolling the Barrier to protect the bed. 
• Roll Resident back onto their back. 
• Scoot Resident back to the center of the bed. 
• After Notifying Resident of intended Skill and ensuring consent, you may continue. 
• Roll up Resident’s blanket and gown, together, towards their torso to expose the Catheter Area. 
• Do Not roll Catheter with Blanket and Resident Gown.
• Do Not pull or tug on Catheter.
• Cover Resident’s thighs with a Towel. 
• Roll Privacy Blanket and gown up together to expose the Perineal Area.
• Starting at Resident’s Feet. 
• Cover Resident’s upper legs with a Towel. 
• •  

 3. Performing Catheter Care

• Retrieve a Washcloth and wring it out. 
• Using the LEAVES Method, soak 4 corners of the Washcloth with Soap.
• While holding the Catheter where it enters the body, wrap the washcloth around the tubing, and wipe AWAY from the body. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• While holding the Catheter where it enters the body, wrap the washcloth around the tubing, and wipe AWAY from the body. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Repeat 2 more times. (total of 4 times). 
• Set soiled Washcloth aside on Barrier. 
• Retrieve Clean Washcloth and wring out. 
• Using Clean Washcloth, and the LEAVES method, we will now rinse all areas. 
• While holding the Catheter where it enters the body, wrap the washcloth around the tubing, and wipe AWAY from the body. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Repeat 3 times. 
• Set soiled Washcloth aside on Barrier. 
• Using the towel, we will now dry the Catheter area.
• •  

4. Performing Peri Care

• Retrieve a Washcloth and wring it out. 
• Using the LEAVES Method, soak 5 corners of the Washcloth with Soap.
• Always clean Top to Bottom.
• Using the heel of your hand at the top of the Peri Area and your index and middle fingers to hold Resident’s Peri Area open, while using your pinky finger to hold Catheter up and out of the way. 
• Clean down the Inside-Middle of the Peri Area. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Second Leaf, clean the Labia Top to Bottom on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Third Leaf, clean other side of Resident’s Labia Top to Bottom.
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using fourth Leaf, clean the Area between the Leg and Peri Area on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using the Final Leaf, clean the area between the leg and Peri Area on the other side. 
• Place Dirty Washcloth back on Barrier. 
• Retrieve Clean Washcloth from Basin. 
• Rinse all Areas previously Washed, in the same manner. 
• Using the heel of your hand at the top of the Peri Area and your index and middle fingers to hold Resident’s Peri Area open. 
• Rinse the Inside-Middle of the Peri Area. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Second Leaf, rinse the Labia Top to Bottom on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using Third Leaf, rinse other side of Resident’s Labia Top to Bottom.
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using fourth Leaf, rinse the Area between the Leg and Peri Area on one side. 
• Fold Washcloth Leaf over
• Using the Final Leaf, rinse the area between the leg and Peri Area on the other side. 
• Place Dirty Washcloth back on Barrier. 
• Using the Towel on Resident’s Legs, dry all rinsed areas.
  • Use short, soft strokes or a gentle pat.
• Unroll Resident’s Blanket  and gown to cover their Legs. 
• Ensure Catheter Tubing is coiled on the bed. NOT near the floor, under Resident or kinked.

5.  Clean up and Closing

• Place towel and wash cloths in Soiled Linens. 
• Pour Wash Basin into Sink. 
• Clean Wash Basin per Facility guidelines.
• Use a Paper Towel to pick up Wash Basin.
• Dry Wash Basin with Paper Towels. 
• Using a paper towel, place Soap back into Basin, and place Basin in Bedside Storage. 
• Dispose of Paper Towels. 
• Ask Resident to Scoot towards you. 
• Roll Resident onto their side.
• Roll soiled Barrier toward Resident and tuck under their hip. 
• Ask Resident to Roll back towards you
• Ensure Resident is not lying on Catheter Tubing. 
• Scoot Resident towards center of the bed. 
• Move to the other side of the bed. 
• Ask Resident to Scoot towards you. 
• Roll Resident onto their side, and Scoot towards the center of the bed. 
• Remove Barrier from bed, curling it into a ball as you remove it to prevent contamination. 
• Dispose of Barrier. 
• Remove Barrier from Bedside Table, rolling into a ball to prevent contamination, dispose of in Garbage. 
• Remove and Dispose of gloves. 
• Lifting from the bottom, collect Privacy Blanket up into a Ball and place in dirty linens. 
• Ensure Resident is not lying on Catheter, and Catheter is coiled on the bed. 
• Dispose of Barrier on Bedside Table. 
• Dispose of Gloves. 
• Pull Resident’s sheet back up to cover them. 
• Remove Privacy Blanket, rolling into a ball as you remove to limit contamination. 
• Place Privacy Blanket is soiled linens. 
• Ensure Resident is comfortable.
• Provide Resident with Call light.
• Open Privacy curtain and ensure bed is in lowest position.
• Thoroughly wash your hands. 
• Think about the Steps of your Skill. Make any corrections. Tell the evaluator your Skills is complete. 
• •  

• Not reading and following the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Not greeting Resident or describing Task. 
• Not following Proper privacy practices throughout.
• Allowing Resident to lie on Catheter.
• Allowing Catheter to touch the ground. 
• Allowing Resident to tangle Catheter tubing during the Roll. 
• Tugging or pulling on Catheter.
• Not cleaning the Proper direction. 
• Allowing linens to touch the floor.
• Allowing linens to touch your uniform.
• Touching Resident with dirty hands.
• Not closing Privacy Curtain. 
• Not ensuring Resident safety/positioning while performing Scoot & Roll.
• Not ensuring Resident is positioned in the center of the bed. 
• Shaking or Snapping sheets.
• Not ending Skill with clean hands. 
• Not providing Resident with Call Light. 
• Not ensuring bed is left in the lowest position.