Skilled Nursing Services
Catheter Care
Managing a urinary catheter is much simpler when you have an experienced nurse looking after it at home. We handle insertions, routine changes, and troubleshooting under your doctor's orders while helping you stay comfortable and free of infection.
- Provided by
- Registered nurses and your Royal care team
- Ordered by
- Your physician or allowed practitioner
- Availability
- Mon to Fri, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with a nurse on call after hours
- Where
- In your home, across 4 Southern California counties
Overview
About Catheter Care
Urinary catheters need steady attention to stay comfortable and flow properly. Our registered nurses come to your home for scheduled changes, resolve issues like kinks, leaks, or blockages, and watch closely for early signs of a urinary tract infection.
We treat every visit with complete privacy and respect. We also show you and your family practical tips for daily hygiene, switching between leg bags and overnight bags, and keeping tubing positioned comfortably.
What's included
- Indwelling (Foley) catheter insertion and scheduled routine changes
- Suprapubic catheter changes and site care per physician orders
- Sterile bladder irrigation when prescribed by your doctor
- Troubleshooting slow drainage, bypassing, leaks, or bladder spasms
- Guidance on cleaning and switching leg bags and overnight drainage bags
- Monitoring for urinary tract infections and protecting surrounding skin
- Teaching intermittent (straight) catheterization when ordered
- Helping coordinate replacement catheter supplies so you never run short
Who it helps
- Individuals with urinary retention or bladder conditions requiring an indwelling catheter
- Patients returning home from the hospital or rehab with a new Foley catheter
- People living with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, or prostate conditions
- Patients with a suprapubic catheter who prefer routine changes at home
What to expect
Your care, step by step.
Step 1: Checkup
Your nurse checks how the catheter is draining, inspects the skin, and notes the clarity and volume of urine.
Step 2: Care or change
We clean, irrigate, or replace the catheter using sterile technique according to your doctor's orders.
Step 3: Everyday tips
We review bag care, hydration, and comfortable tubing placement with you and your caregiver.
Step 4: Follow-up
We share updates with your doctor and make sure your supplies are stocked for upcoming visits.
Staying safe
When to call us or your doctor
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. A registered nurse is always on call by phone after office hours, on weekends, and on holidays.
Call us or your physician if you notice:
- No urine draining into the bag over two to four hours, or a full bladder feeling
- Fever, chills, lower back ache, or sudden confusion
- Urine that looks very cloudy, dark red, or has a strong odor
- New burning, cramping, or leaking around the catheter tube
- A catheter that accidentally pulls out
For chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke, severe bleeding or any emergency, call 911.
How often does a catheter need to be changed?
Many indwelling catheters are changed about once a month, though your doctor sets the exact schedule for you. If a catheter ever clogs, leaks, or feels uncomfortable sooner, our nurses can visit to check or replace it.
Can you help prevent urinary tract infections?
Yes. Gentle sterile insertion, good daily hygiene, plenty of fluids, and keeping the drainage bag below hip level all make a big difference. We also watch for early symptoms so your doctor can treat any issue right away.
Related services
Ask us about Catheter Care.
Call us with questions, to make a referral, or to check whether you qualify. A real person answers during office hours, and a registered nurse is on call after hours.