Transcript for film five - Clinical Equipment

Introduction

You need to be familiar with some clinical equipment and how this needs to be cared for and cleaned

Urinary Catheters

A catheter is a hollow tube that drains urine from the bladder into a drainage bag. The catheter is inserted by a nurse or doctor and held in place by a balloon filled with sterile water. Wash your hands and put on single use gloves and a disposable apron every time you empty or change a catheter bag. A catheter drainage bag should be kept below bladder level and must be emptied when two thirds full and changed correctly when clinically indicated or according to manufacturers instructions to reduce the chance of infection. Catheter bags are disposable and should not be re-used.

Emptying a catheter bag

A catheter drainage bag should be kept below bladder level and emptied before it becomes completely full to avoid back flow into the bladder. But it should not be emptied more often than necessary because this increases the risk of infection.

The following procedure must be followed when emptying the catheter bag.

• Wash your hands and put on single-use gloves and disposable apron
• Empty the bag into a clean container by releasing the drainage tap.  The container should be disposable or, if reusable, cleaned as per local policy.
• Empty into a toilet, note the volume if required.
• Remove apron and gloves.
• Wash hands and record the volume if required.

How to change a catheter bag?

The following procedure must be followed when changing a catheter bag.

• Remove the new bag and tubing from packaging maintaining sterility. Assemble leg strap.
• Detach used bag holding the catheter to prevent backflow into the bladder. Do not pull or drag the catheter.
• Ensure the catheter is effectively secured.
• Remove cap and attach new bag making sure not to touch the end of the tube otherwise micro organisms can be introduced causing infection.
• Place used bag into a clinical waste bag.
• Remove apron and gloves and place in a clinical waste bag.
• Wash hands.
• Record catheter bag change and urine volume.

Fitting, removing and emptying a linked drainage bag

If the resident has a leg bag or day bag , an additional larger linked drainage bag (sometimes called a night bag) is used at night to keep the original system intact. 

The following procedure must be followed when fitting a night bag.

• Remove the new bag and tubing from packaging and attach to bed hanger or night stand and ensure the drainage tap is off the floor.
• Attach night bag to overnight connector on the leg bag making sure not to touch the end of the tube otherwise bacteria can be introduced causing infection.
• Turn drainage tap on leg bag to the open position to allow continuous drainage into the night bag
• Remove gloves and apron.
• Wash hands

The following procedure must be followed when removing the night bag.

• Turn drainage tap on leg bag to the closed position
• Detach used bag and note volume of urine if required.
• Empty urine in the toilet. Dispose of used night bag in clinical waste.
• Remove gloves and apron and place into a clinical waste bag.
• Wash hands, record volume of urine if required.

Enteral Feeding

Residents who cannot eat food normally may be fed through an enteral feeding tube which pumps food from a bag into their stomach.

• When handling liquid food use hygienic food preparation and storage procedures
• If required note time and volume of food to be administered.
• To prevent blockage, the enteral feeding tube should be flushed with water before and after feeding
• Attach the administration tubes and feeding bag making sure not to touch the ends
• Check the settings on the pump,
• Administration sets and feed containers are for single use and must be thrown away after each feeding session
• When cleaning the pump- switch off and unplug. Wipe with hot water and detergent starting at the pump and working downwards to the base of the stand.

Nebulisers

Residents with breathing difficulties may use a nebuliser.

• If needed help the resident put the mask in place
• Masks can be used again but only for single person use and should not be shared
• After use detach the mask and clean following manufacturers instructions 
• Keep the machine clean and dust free check tubing before and after use

 
End screen - text plus voiceover

Remember

Catheters

• Empty and change catheter bags correctly to reduce the chance of infection
• Always handle the catheter bag correctly to avoid back flow of urine into the bladder when detaching or emptying it
• Change catheter bags when clinically indicated or according to manufacturers instructions
• Catheter bags are disposable and should not be reused
• Do not pull or drag the catheter
• Do not touch the end of the catheter tube when attaching a new bag

Enteral Feeding

• Flush the tube with water before and after feeding.
• Do not touch the ends of the administration tubes and feeding bag
• Throw away administration sets and feed containers after use
• Unplug the pump when cleaning it

Nebulisers

• Masks must not be shared between residents
• Clean correctly after use

 

Last reviewed: 22 July 2010