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12.6.2: Procedure- Use of a Urinal

  • Page ID
    67726
    • Erin O'Hara-Leslie, Amdra C. Wade, Kimberly B. McLain, SUNY Broome
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    The use of a urinal helps the male patient to privately and safely urinate without having to ambulate to the bathroom or commode. Many male patients may find it easier to urinate in a high sitting or a standing position. Assist the patient into the position they are most comfortable and can safely assume during urination. Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides may need to assist some patients with positioning and holding the urinal while they urinate.

    1. Explain the procedure to the patient.
    2. Wash your hands. Don gloves.
    3. Provide for privacy.
    4. Adjust the bed to a safe working height. Lock bed wheels. Raise the head of the bed to put the patient in a sitting position in bed or at the side of the bed. Alternatively, assist the patient to a standing position. Refer to Procedures “Transfer to a Sitting Position in Bed”, “Helping the Patient to Sit at the Side of the Bed”, andHelping the Patient to Stand”.
    5. Place a protective pad or towel under patient’s hips as needed.
    6. If the patient is able, hand them the urinal.
    7. If the patient requires assistance, place the urinal between the patient’s legs. Position the head of the penis into the urinal, ensuring it is completely inside the container.
    8. Be patient while assisting with urination. Allow for quiet during this time. Provide privacy by covering the patient with a blanket if they are in bed.
    9. Provide privacy for the patient to urinate if they do not require assistance by leaving the room. Check on the patient every five minutes, knocking before entering. Provide toilet paper.
    10. Discard gloves and wash your hands.
    11. When the patient has finished using the urinal, wash your hands and don clean gloves.
    12. Close the cap on the urinal.
    13. Lower the bed to the lowest height. Ensure bed rails are raised.
    14. Remove the urinal and supplies.
    15. Measure urine and record output as required.
    16. Dispose of urine into toilet. Flush toilet. Rinse and then store urinal. Do not store a urinal on a bedside table. Hang the urinal on a bed rail near the patient so they may easily access it.
    17. Dispose of gloves. Wash your hands.
    18. Document procedure and any observations or changes in condition or behavior.

    This page titled 12.6.2: Procedure- Use of a Urinal is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Erin O'Hara-Leslie, Amdra C. Wade, Kimberly B. McLain, SUNY Broome (OpenSUNY) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.