Failure to Secure Indwelling Catheter According to Policy
Penalty
Summary
A resident with a diagnosis of neurogenic bladder had a physician order for an indwelling urinary catheter. During observation, the resident was found lying in bed with the catheter tubing positioned between the posterior legs toward the buttock, and the statlock device, intended to secure the catheter, was folded, dirty, undated, and not attached to the resident's leg. A nurse confirmed that the catheter was not secured and that the statlock was unclean, stating it should have been clean and properly attached. The Director of Nursing stated that facility policy requires indwelling catheters to be secured to the resident's leg with a statlock for stabilization. The facility's urinary catheter care policy specifies that the catheter should be secured with a leg strap to reduce friction and movement at the insertion site, but this was not followed in this instance.