FEMALE URINARY CATHETERISATION

Female Urinary Catheterisation

Female urinary catheterisation is an essential clinical procedure that undergraduate medical students must learn to perform safely, confidently and professionally. It involves introducing a sterile urinary catheter through the female urethra into the urinary bladder to facilitate urine drainage or fulfil specific clinical requirements.

This course provides structured, competency-based training in female urinary catheterisation, following the principles of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum, including competency OG35.17.

Through interactive teaching, visual demonstrations and hands-on simulation practice, students develop the knowledge, technical skills and professional behaviour required for safe catheterisation.

The course emphasises the importance of appropriate clinical indications, patient communication, informed consent, privacy, dignity, infection prevention, aseptic technique, correct catheter insertion, drainage-system management and prevention of complications.

Students will observe a faculty demonstration, practise the procedure using a female urinary catheterisation simulator and undergo structured assessment using a Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) checklist.

The training follows the DOAP approach — Demonstrate, Observe, Assist and Perform — allowing students to progress from observation to supervised procedural performance.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Explain the indications and precautions for female urinary catheterisation.
Identify the relevant female urethral anatomy and external urethral meatus.
Select appropriate urinary catheters and assemble the required equipment.
Demonstrate effective patient communication, consent and maintenance of privacy.
Perform hand hygiene and maintain appropriate aseptic technique.
Position the patient correctly and prepare the sterile field.
Demonstrate safe catheter insertion using appropriate lubrication and gentle technique.
Recognise urine flow and establish appropriate catheter placement before balloon inflation.
Connect, secure and manage the urinary drainage system.
Identify common complications and demonstrate appropriate preventive measures.
Complete post-procedure care and documentation.
Demonstrate competency through supervised simulation practice and DOPS assessment.

Module 1: Introduction, Anatomy and Clinical Indications

Introduction to urinary catheterisation
Female urinary tract anatomy
Identification of the external urethral meatus
Indications and contraindications
Clinical precautions and patient safety

Module 2: Equipment Preparation and Aseptic Technique

Types and sizes of urinary catheters
Equipment preparation
Hand hygiene and PPE
Sterile field preparation
Infection prevention principles

Module 3: Patient Preparation and Faculty Demonstration

Patient identification and explanation
Consent, privacy and chaperone practice
Correct patient positioning
Perineal cleaning
Identification of urethral meatus
Lubrication and catheter insertion

Module 4: Hands-On DOAP Simulation Practice

Faculty demonstration
Student observation
Supervised practice
Balloon inflation and catheter securing
Drainage-bag management
Common errors and corrective techniques

Module 5: Assessment, Complications and Aftercare

DOPS assessment
Complication recognition
Catheter care and infection prevention
Documentation
Faculty feedback and reflection
Post-course knowledge assessment

FEMALE URINARY CATHETERISATION

Course Overview