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Fundamentals: Practice & Skills (4/4)
Questions and Answers Latest Update
What is a bladder scanner? Ans: Portable ultrasound to measure volume of
urine within bladder.
What are the indications for a bladder scanner? Ans: Assess for urinary
retention.
How is a bladder scanner used? Ans: 1. Encourage patient to void to assess
postvoid residual amount.
2. Turn on scanner, select button whether patient has uterus.
3. Apply ultrasound gel to abdomen. Place scanner 1" above symphysis
pubis. Point scanner towards bladder.
4. Press scan and adjust probe to center the bladder image.
5. Press done and print results.
What is an indwelling catheter and its risks? Ans: Tube inserted into urethra
for continuous drainage of urine.
Increases risk of CAUTI, pain, urethral injury.
What are the indications for an indwelling catheter? Ans: Urinary retention
Urinary obstruction
Strict output monitoring
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Bladder irrigation
Several perineal/sacral wounds
What is a straight/intermittent catheter? Why would it be used over an
indwelling catheter? Ans: Used to drain bladder a single time or
intermittently for chronic urinary retention.
Decreased risk of CAUTI compared to indwelling catheter.
What are the indications for a straight/intermittent catheter? Ans: Chronic
retention
Urine sampling
What is a suprapubic catheter? Ans: Drainage tube inserted surgically into
bladder through small incision above pubic symphysis.
Provides long-term bladder draining.
What are the indications for a suprapubic catheter? Ans: Urethral
stricture/injury
Severe BPH
What are external urine collective devices? Ans: Includes condom catheters
for males or wicking devices for females.
What are the indications for external urine collective devices? Ans:
Incontinence
Not effective for obstruction/retention.
What is the care for an indwelling catheter? Ans: Insert catheter using sterile
technique/equipment.
© 2025 All rights reserved
Fundamentals: Practice & Skills (4/4)
Questions and Answers Latest Update
What is a bladder scanner? Ans: Portable ultrasound to measure volume of
urine within bladder.
What are the indications for a bladder scanner? Ans: Assess for urinary
retention.
How is a bladder scanner used? Ans: 1. Encourage patient to void to assess
postvoid residual amount.
2. Turn on scanner, select button whether patient has uterus.
3. Apply ultrasound gel to abdomen. Place scanner 1" above symphysis
pubis. Point scanner towards bladder.
4. Press scan and adjust probe to center the bladder image.
5. Press done and print results.
What is an indwelling catheter and its risks? Ans: Tube inserted into urethra
for continuous drainage of urine.
Increases risk of CAUTI, pain, urethral injury.
What are the indications for an indwelling catheter? Ans: Urinary retention
Urinary obstruction
Strict output monitoring
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Bladder irrigation
Several perineal/sacral wounds
What is a straight/intermittent catheter? Why would it be used over an
indwelling catheter? Ans: Used to drain bladder a single time or
intermittently for chronic urinary retention.
Decreased risk of CAUTI compared to indwelling catheter.
What are the indications for a straight/intermittent catheter? Ans: Chronic
retention
Urine sampling
What is a suprapubic catheter? Ans: Drainage tube inserted surgically into
bladder through small incision above pubic symphysis.
Provides long-term bladder draining.
What are the indications for a suprapubic catheter? Ans: Urethral
stricture/injury
Severe BPH
What are external urine collective devices? Ans: Includes condom catheters
for males or wicking devices for females.
What are the indications for external urine collective devices? Ans:
Incontinence
Not effective for obstruction/retention.
What is the care for an indwelling catheter? Ans: Insert catheter using sterile
technique/equipment.
© 2025 All rights reserved
