At the ICU we monitor hourly vital signs, sedation score, urine
output and a few other things relevant depending on the cases. Yesterday
my patient had only 2ml or urine drained over two hours. This time the
staff nurse accompanying me was busy so I decided to inform the medical
officer on duty.
Lo and behold, the urine just kept flowing as soon as the new catheter was in place! Poor patient, suffering from a distended bladder but was unable to express it. I felt a little foolish as I forgot to palpate to check if the bladder was distended; I felt useful as the patient's suffering was eased because I raised the issue to the doctor's attention, but what the patient probably felt was relief, which is, needless to say, more important than my feelings.
Intensive care nursing is about close monitoring of patients and judicious reporting to doctors.
"Doctor, doctor.. Patient so-and-so's urine output is pretty bad, only 2ml over the past two hours post surgery."So the doctor came to check on her patient, and flushed the urinary catheter in case it was blocked. And it worked! However it did not take long for us to notice that it started leaking, and I got the stuff ready for the doctor to change the catheter.
"Okay, noted. Give me a minute to come over." (Phew! I still feel a little anxious when communicating with doctors, not sure why)
Lo and behold, the urine just kept flowing as soon as the new catheter was in place! Poor patient, suffering from a distended bladder but was unable to express it. I felt a little foolish as I forgot to palpate to check if the bladder was distended; I felt useful as the patient's suffering was eased because I raised the issue to the doctor's attention, but what the patient probably felt was relief, which is, needless to say, more important than my feelings.
Intensive care nursing is about close monitoring of patients and judicious reporting to doctors.
