Nurse Goes To War Over Doctors' Refusal To Order Catheters, Citing 16 Straight Caths In One Night

The night shift on the ortho surgery floor is supposed to be quiet, but for one surgical nurse, it is a battlefield. The issue? A stubborn refusal by hospitalists to order Foley catheters, leaving patients to endure repeated straight catheterizations that can number up to sixteen in a single night.

"I have had patients in the hospital for days who are being straight catheterized constantly," the nurse said. "One patient had eleven intermittent catheterizations, and the most recent one had sixteen."

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The nurse explained that they try to ask the hospitalist if they want a Foley and explain how many times the patient has already been cathed, but they are always told to refer to the day team. The day team, however, never wants to order one.

"I was told there is this fear of getting dinged for CAUTIs, but I just feel this is causing more suffering and poses an even bigger risk of infection for patients," the nurse said. "In fact, my last patient who needed it sixteen times, I was unable to get urine on my last attempt."

The nurse is not alone in their frustration. Many healthcare workers have expressed similar concerns about the prioritization of CAUTI stats over patient comfort. The debate over whether to order Foley catheters or use straight catheterizations is a complex one, with valid arguments on both sides.

On one hand, Foley catheters can increase the risk of CAUTIs, which are a significant concern in hospitals. On the other hand, repeated straight catheterizations can be painful and invasive for patients, and can also increase the risk of infection.

The nurse believes that a middle ground is needed, where the decision to order a Foley catheter is made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the patient's individual needs and risks.

"I think we need to have more conversations about this issue and find a way to balance the need to prevent CAUTIs with the need to provide comfortable and safe care for our patients," the nurse said.

The debate over Foley catheters is just one example of the many challenges that healthcare workers face on a daily basis. From long shifts to difficult patients to complex medical conditions, the job of a nurse is both rewarding and demanding.

As the nurse puts it, "It is a tough job, but it is a job that I love. I just wish we could do a better job of taking care of our patients."

This story is just one of many that the hosts of Code Red will dig into on the podcast, exploring the high-stakes world of healthcare and the people who work in it.