2. Objectives
□ State the function of the urinary system
□ Identify ways in which urinary function may change with
aging
□ Define related terms
□ Describe normal and abnormal appearance of urine
□ List signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections
□ Identify NA actions to decrease the incidence of infections
□ SKILL: Catheter Care
□ Identify causes of incontinence
□ Describe measures to prevent incontinence
□ Describe measures to provide skin care and comfort for the
incontinent resident
□ Describe indwelling urinary catheter and closed drainage
system
□ Identify NA actions to prevent complications from an
indwelling urinary catheter
□ Identify observations NA should report about the catheterized
resident
4. Functions of the Urinary System
□ Kidneys: Filter waste from blood
□ Ureters: carriers waste (urine) from
kidneys to bladder
□ Bladder: stores urine and expels it
□ Urethra: transports urine to the outside
of the body
5. Alterations of the Urinary
System in the Elderly
□ Less efficient
□ Less elastic & has less holding capacity
□ Bladder does not completely empty =
urinary infection
□ Muscles of urethra weaken = urine
“leaking”
7. Signs and Symptoms of
Urinary Tract Infection
□ Frequency
□ Burning
□ Urgency
□ Strong odor
□ Discoloration-hematuria
□ Incontinence
□ Confusion
□ Fever
8. How Can You Prevent UTIs?
□ Provide adequate hydration
□ Wash and dry perineal area from front (clean)
to back (dirty)
□ Clean stool immediately
□ Toilet according to plan of care
□ Catheters must be free of stool &
encrustations
□ Tubing & catheter bag below bladder and off
the floor
□ Prevent tubing from looping below drainage
bag
□ Maintain closed system; do not separate
tubes
9. Causes of Incontinence
□ Medications
□ Disease processes (enlarged
prostate, Alzheimer’s and diabetes)
□ Nerve messages blocked or weak –
stroke, brain or spinal cord injuries
□ Weakening bladder muscles
□ Confusion; help need for toileting
□ Dependence on others to get to toilet
□ Toilet not accessible to resident
10. How Can You Prevent
Incontinence?
□ Be alert to clues
□ Establish a routine - follow plan of care
□ Toilet promptly when requested
11. Skin Care & Comfort Measures
□ Check resident every 2 hours or per care
plan
□ Change clothes/linens as needed
□ Wash & dry all affected skin
□ Use adult undergarments (disposable) per
care plan
□ Use protective pads on bed per care plan
□ Do NOT scold or treat resident like a child
13. Urinary Catheters/Closed
Drainage System
□ Catheter is a hollow tube with a small
balloon at the end; inflated after insertion
to keep from falling out.
□ Tubing connects the catheter to
drainage bag
□ Plastic drainage bag hangs from bed or
chair or is carried with person; some strap
to resident’s leg
□ Urine is emptied from clamped port at
the bottom of bag
