If you are unfamiliar with what a bladder scanner is and how to use one, hopefully this page will clear things up for you. Although it may seem complicated at first, it is actually quite simple.
What and when? Supplies Step by step Download and print bladder scanner instructions (pdf)
So what is it exactly and what is it used for? It is an ultrasound machine that uses sound waves to scan a patient's bladder to determine how much urine they have inside. This is typically done if there is suspicion that they are retaining urine which can cause serious issues such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or even bladder rupture if not treated.
Note that just because they are urinating, that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't retaining. Retaining simply means they aren't completely emptying out their bladder. To see if this is the case, the patient is scanned immediately after they urinate. This is called checking their post void residual. This is one reason why it is important to keep up with their intake and output (I&O).
After a patient has had their foley catheter removed, they need to urinate within a certain amount of time. At the hospital where I am employed, that time frame is 8 hours. If they still haven't gone by then, we encourage them to go and if they are unable to, we bladder scan them. If they are retaining, there is usually an order to reinsert of the catheter or performing a straight cath.
How much urine in the bladder is considered too much? We typically have separate parameters ordered for each individual. They usually range between 250 and 350 mL (cc), but it really depends on the patient. Of course generally speaking, the larger the patient, the larger the bladder.
All of the supplies you need are as follows:
Medical References for Caregivers
List of Caregiver Supplies and Equipment
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