Resources

Kate Upton describes compassion fatigue, an increasingly reported form of stress associated with the demands of nursing in the current NHS, and questions what can be done to overcome it.

Over one million indwelling urinary catheters are inserted every year in the UK; this equates to between 12 and 24% of hospital patients having an indwelling catheter at some point during their inpatient stay (Feneley et al, 2015).

The use of indwelling urinary catheters in the care sector can be higher (Royal College of Physicians, 2004; Loveday et al, 2015).

Nurses should be familiar with best practice and understand the advantages and disadvantages of using indwelling urinary catheters in the urethral and suprapubic sites.

Passing urine is something most of us do not give a thought about, as it is part of everyday lives. However, it is a more complex process than is apparent, as all elements of the urinary tract need to be functioning and working together, and the three micturition centres in the body, which control filling and emptying of the bladder via the autonomic and somatic nervous systems, also need to work in harmony to urinate successfully. Here, Rachel Leaver, lecturer practitioner, urological nursing, UCLH and London South Bank University, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, provides an overview of the male and female urinary tracts.

Continence is an important and common problem and so nurses have a responsibility to be able to screen for and perform a basic assessment of incontinence.

Resolution of continence issues is possible for many with the right care and advice.

Primary care nurses need the education and training to be able to offer advice and treatment to help meet people's continence needs and to know when to refer on to specialist services.

If a patient cannot empty their bladder completely, intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) may be an acceptable treatment option.

Learning ISC can be daunting for patients and unless taught properly and the patient is given time to learn at their own pace, compliance may be a problem (Logan et al, 2008).

There are a huge variety of catheters available for ISC and each patient should be assessed individually to find out which option best suits their needs.

Patricia McDermott explains how the ACA is setting the standard for excellence and innovation in continence care today.

Jane Brocksom explains how BAUN has developed into the vibrant organisation it is today and the opportunities it offers to the profession.

Writing for publication is now unavoidable for healthcare professionals who want to progress their career. However, it can feel like a daunting process on top of the demands of the day job and home life. This first part of our writing for publication series, provides guidance on what you need to do before you even begin to write.

Catheters have been around for thousands of years, but the basic principles have not changed, so here we ask - Is it time to take a fresh look at catheter care and could we do better?