Catheter Care Training

Catheter Care Training - CPD Accredited Course

Duration: Half day course - 10:15 arrival for 10:30am start.

Course Overview:

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections in the UK. NICE guideline CG139 is clear that the risk of infection increases significantly when catheter care isn’t carried out correctly, and that many CAUTIs are preventable with proper practice and timely escalation. But infection isn’t the only risk. Blockages, bypass, catheter displacement, skin breakdown from poorly fitted leg straps, and avoidable hospital admissions are all linked to gaps in catheter care knowledge. The consequences for the individual can be serious: pain, systemic infection, loss of dignity, and, in vulnerable individuals, rapid deterioration.

Course topics covered include:

• What urinary catheters are, how they work, and why they’re used, including a practical look at catheter anatomy and the components staff will encounter
• Types of catheters and drainage systems: short-term, long-term, suprapubic, and leg bag versus night bag systems
• Hands-on practical: handling catheters, changing drainage bags and night bags, fitting leg straps correctly, and positioning considerations
• Infection prevention and control in catheter care: hand hygiene, aseptic principles, and avoiding common contamination errors
• Daily catheter care and hygiene: what good practice looks like at every interaction
• Monitoring urine output, colour, clarity, and flow: what’s normal and what isn’t
• Catheter bypass: what it is, what causes it, and why it must be escalated rather than managed with incontinence pads
• Recognising red flags and complications: infection, blockage, displacement, and skin integrity
• Maintaining dignity, privacy, and consent at every stage of catheter care
• Record keeping and communication: documenting care clearly and escalating in writing
• When to seek medical advice: district nurse, GP, and emergency escalation

Course provided by Surrey Independent Living Charity, funded by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).