Question

The physician has ordered an indwelling catheter inserted in a hospitalized male patient. The nurse is aware of which of the following considerations?

A. The male urethra is more vulnerable to injury during insertion.
B. In the hospital, a clean technique is used for catheter insertion.
C. The catheter is inserted 2″ to 3″ into the meatus.
D. Since it uses a closed system, the risk for urinary tract infection is absent.

Answer 1

The nurse should be aware of the following considerations when inserting an indwelling catheter in a hospitalized male patient: the male urethra is more vulnerable to injury, a clean technique should be used, the catheter should be inserted 2″ to 3″ into the meatus, and the closed system reduces the risk of urinary tract infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is aware of the following considerations when inserting an indwelling catheter in a hospitalized male patient:

1. The male urethra is more vulnerable to injury during insertion. The male urethra is longer and has more curves than the female urethra, which increases the risk of trauma during catheter insertion.
2. In the hospital, a clean technique is used for catheter insertion. A clean technique involves proper hand hygiene, wearing sterile gloves, and using sterile equipment to reduce the risk of infection.
3. The catheter is inserted 2″ to 3″ into the meatus. The meatus is the external opening of the urethra. Inserting the catheter 2″ to 3″ ensures that it reaches the bladder while minimizing the risk of trauma.
4. Since it uses a closed system, the risk for urinary tract infection is absent. Closed catheter systems are designed to minimize the risk of contamination and therefore reduce the risk of urinary tract infection.