Question

A nurse inserting an indwelling Foley catheter in a female patient advances the catheter and obtains clear yellow urine. What is the next action the nurse should take?

A. Inflate the balloon with the prefilled syringe of sterile water in the balloon port.

B. Pull gently back on the catheter approximately 1 inch or until resistance is met.

C. Advance catheter another 1 to 2 inches and inflate balloon.

D. Ask patient to bear down as if to void.

Answer 1

The nurse should advance the catheter another 1 to 2 inches and then inflate the balloon (option C) to ensure it is positioned within the bladder to prevent trauma to the urethra.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse is inserting an indwelling Foley catheter in a female patient and obtains clear yellow urine, the next action the nurse should take is to advance the catheter another 1 to 2 inches and then inflate the balloon (Option C). This ensures that the balloon is inflated within the bladder and not within the urethra, which could cause trauma to the urethral lining.


An indwelling catheter has a balloon at its tip which, when inflated, keeps the catheter in place inside the bladder. The urine production and bladder's ability to stretch and hold urine are relevant to why it's crucial to ensure the catheter is within the bladder before balloon inflation.