USE OF URINAL IN HOSPITALS
Urinals in hospitals serve several purposes, contributing to the overall functionality and hygiene of healthcare facilities. Here are some ways in which urinals are used in hospitals:
- Patient Care and Convenience: Hospitals often use urinals as a convenient way for patients to urinate while in bed or when mobility is limited. This is particularly important for patients recovering from surgery, those with medical conditions affecting mobility, or those who are bedridden.
- Postoperative Recovery: After certain surgeries or medical procedures, patients may have difficulty getting to a bathroom. Portable urinals can be used to collect urine, providing a more comfortable and convenient option for patients during the recovery period.
- Bedside Care: Healthcare professionals use urinals as part of bedside care, assisting patients who may have difficulty reaching the bathroom independently. This is common in situations where patients are weak, recovering from surgery, or have mobility limitations.
- Incontinence Management: Urinals are utilized in hospitals to manage urinary incontinence. Patients who may have difficulty controlling their bladder function can use urinals as a means of maintaining hygiene and dignity.
- Patient Monitoring: Monitoring urine output is an essential aspect of patient care. Urinals can be used to collect urine for measurement, helping healthcare providers assess kidney function, fluid balance, and other aspects of a patient’s health.
- Emergency Situations: In emergency situations, such as when a patient cannot be moved quickly to a bathroom, urinals provide a practical solution for immediate waste elimination.
- Preventing Falls and Injuries: For patients at risk of falls or injuries during bathroom trips, using urinals in the bedside setting can reduce the likelihood of accidents and improve overall patient safety.
Urinal is used for male patients to void the urine the nurse should insist the bedridden to void into a urinal (a plastic or metal receptacle for urine) in bed
In case of female patients nurse should provide bed-pan for bedridden to collect the urine
Purposes
- To promote comfort
- To assist the void
- To prevent bed wetting
- To maintain the urinary output record
- To minimize the physical strain
Factors Influences
- Normal urinary elimination habits
- Nature of disease condition
- Environment (privacy)
- The amount of intake (food and fluids)
- Availability of equipment and personal
Preliminary Assessment
Check
- Doctors order for specific precautions such as movements and position
- Level of consciousness
- Self-care ability of the patient
- Frequency of urination
- Articles available in the unit
Preparation of the Patient and Environment
- Provide adequate privacy
- Arrange the article (urinal) ready at bed side
- Place the Mackintosh and draw sheet
- Place the patient in proper body alignment
Equipment
- Clean urinal
- Disposable gloves
- Clean linen if required
- Hand washing basin, mug and water
- Soap with soap dish
- Measuring jar
Procedure
- Wash hands thoroughly
- If the patient is conscious, allow him to place or else position penis into urinal
- Prevent soiling of urine on bed or patients body
- Remain with helpless patient; get assistance from relatives if needed
- Remove urinal after patient has voided
- Measure and empty the urine in sluice room
After Care
- Assist the patient to wash perineal area and hands
- Place the patient in a proper body alignment
- Change the bed linen, if required
- Replace the articles used after cleaning
- Wash hands
- Record the procedure in nurse’s record sheet and the amount in intake output chart
