Removing a urinary catheter after knee surgery
NMC OSCE practice station
Clinical skills · 1 min to read · 8 min to perform
Try a real conversation · NMC OSCEAI practice
Prepare for and remove the catheter safely, explaining each step to her.
Josephine BaptisteIs it time for the catheter to come out? I'm a little nervous about it.
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You are the nurse on an orthopaedic ward. Josephine Baptiste, aged 62, had a knee replacement two days ago. A urinary catheter was put in before the operation and the doctor has written that it should be removed today. Prepare for and remove the catheter safely, explaining each step to her. Say aloud and show what you do, including the care and monitoring afterwards. Complete the record.
What this station tests
- Check the documented balloon volume and withdraw all of the water before removing the catheter.
- Never force a catheter out; stop and seek advice if there is resistance.
- Record the time of removal and plan for the first void within the local time limit.
- Tell the patient what to report: burning, fever, blood in the urine, and being unable to pass urine.
- Maintain privacy and dignity throughout, and explain each step.
Sources for the clinical content
- NICE CG139: Healthcare-associated infections: prevention and control in primary and community care
- NHS: Urinary catheters
- WHO: Hand hygiene in health care
- NMC: The Code
An original practice scenario with invented patients. Not an exam question.