Hospice Training Guide

MANAGING SYMPTOMS

Catheter Management

Nausea & Vomiting

• Nausea and vomiting are common problems. Medical treatments, medications, anxiety, or the illness itself can cause nausea or vomiting.

Proper catheter care is key to preventing complica- tions and ensuring comfort. If your loved one has a catheter, we’re going to guide you on some basics of catheter care and how to keep your loved one com- fortable. What is a Catheter? A catheter is a tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine when someone can’t urinate on their own. Proper hygiene is key in catheter care and to prevent infection. Catheter Care Tips: • Always wash your hands before and after han- dling the catheter. • Clean the area around the catheter daily with mild soap and water. • Always use a clean towel to dry the area and avoid using any rough fabrics, as this can irritate the skin. • Ensure the catheter and drainage tube are clean and dry. • Avoid tugging or pulling on the catheter. • Use adhesive or catheter strap to secure the tube to the leg to avoid tension and accidental pulling. • Keep the catheter below the level of the bladder to prevent urine from backing up into the tube. • The collection bag will need to be emptied and drained regularly, at least every three to four hours, or when it’s half full. The catheter will need to be changed periodically, and you can reach out to your Care Team about when that should occur.

• Limit movement when feeling nauseated, queasy, or sick to the stomach. • Rest and avoid rapid changes in position. • Take medications to prevent or treat nausea at least 30 minutes before eating or taking other medications. • Turn the patient to their side to prevent choking with vomiting. • Slowly sip ginger ale, peppermint or ginger tea, or suck on a peppermint candy if choking is not a risk. • Drink only clear fluids (drinks you can see through) for at least 24 hours. Some good options are ginger ale, apple juice, Sprite or Starry (formerly 7-Up), sports drinks like Gatorade, popsicles, broth, Jello, etc.

• Slowly begin eating small amounts of a BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast (plain). • Rinse mouth thoroughly after vomiting. Use a watered-down mouthwash or brush teeth if pos- sible. • Avoid: ◦ Eating sooner than two (2) hours after vomiting. ◦ Heavy or fatty meals.

◦ Lying down after eating. ◦ Drinks containing caf- feine such as coffee, soda, or black tea. ◦ Strong smells.

SCAN to VIEW VIDEO Watch for Signs of Infection: • Redness, swelling, or any discharge around the catheter site. • Pain or discomfort. • A foul smell or cloudy urine • A fever or chills. • Monitor urine output. Track the color, the amount, and the consist- ency of the urine in the collection bag. • Healthy urine should be pale yellow and clear. Dark or cloudy urine may signal an infection.

SCAN to VIEW VIDEO

CALL YOUR CARE TEAM IF:

• Nausea or vomiting is a new symptom. • Vomiting does not stop even when only drinking clear liquids. • Vomit is bright red or dark brown (like coffee grounds). • The patient is having trouble swallowing.

866.466.9734 • FourSeasonsCare.org

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs