Which of the following would indicate that the clinician performing th

Which of the following would indicate that the clinician performing the catheterization of a fe-male client was competent?

1. Keeping both hands sterile throughout the procedure
2. Reinserting the catheter if it was misplaced initially in the vagina
3. Inflating the balloon to test it before catheter insertion
4. Advancing the catheter 7 to 8 inches

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Before inserting the indwelling catheter, the balloon should be tested by injecting the fluid from the prefilled syringe into the balloon port. The dominant hand is kept sterile throughout the pro-cedure. The nondominant hand is not kept sterile because it touches the client. If the catheter is misplaced, it should be left in the vagina as a landmark indicating where not to insert, and anoth-er sterile catheter should be inserted into the urethra. The catheter should be advanced 2 to 3 inches in the female client.