Effective evidence based catheter management.

People who have long-term urinary catheters commonly experience problems with bypassing and leakage. Changing the catheter is not necessarily the most appropriate solution. Catheter related problems provide nurses with the opportunity to evaluate the clinical indications for continued catheterization and to remove catheters that are not clinically indicated. When catheters are clinically indicated nurses who use an evidence based approach to diagnose and treat problems provide effective care and reduce the risk of patient discomfort and recurrent problems.