Managing Urinary Catheters in Acute Settings

Urinary catheterisation is one of the most common procedures healthcare professionals perform in acute settings. Despite its prevalence, the nature of catheterisation can present serious risks to patients, such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) if performed poorly or incorrectly.

This Ausmed Course educates learners on best practices for catheter management aimed at improving outcomes for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Registered nurses, enrolled nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with indwelling urinary catheters looking to increase their knowledge of best-practice management.

Urinary tract infections were the second-most common hospital-acquired complication across all Australian hospitals between 2021-22, and accounted for approximately 25% of all healthcare-associated infections overall.

Of these hospital-acquired urinary tract infections, it is estimated that catheter-acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) make up anywhere between 70–80%. In spite of these high prevalence rates, up to 70% of CAUTIs are deemed preventable.

Therefore, proper management and assessment of catheter use is vital in preventing CAUTIs and other complications, which can be highly distressing for patients, prolong hospital stays, and add substantial healthcare costs to the system.

Studies show that healthcare professionals responsible for overseeing urinary catheter devices play a crucial role in preventing and minimising associated complications. Effective education addressing best-practice catheter management will improve outcomes through enhanced knowledge and improved confidence.

To equip healthcare professionals in acute settings with the necessary knowledge to effectively assess and manage the care of patients needing urinary catheters, according to best-practice.