RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

A urinary catheter drains urine continuously from the bladder through a plastic tube and into a collection bag. This bag should be emptied as often as needed or at least every twelve hours. Leg bags should be emptied every 3 to 4 hours.

Gather supplies and put them in a clean space close to the patient. Before you empty the bag, you will need:

Gloves
Container to collect urine
Alcohol swab?
To empty the bag, follow these steps:

Put on gloves.
Remove the drainage tube from its sleeve, and point it into the container.
Unclamp the drainage tube. Try not to touch the end of the tube to any surface when emptying the collection bag.
Let the urine drain into a container.
Reclamp the tube.
Clean the tip of the drainage tube with an alcohol swab.
Reinsert the tube into the sleeve.
Call your health care professional if you notice:

Blood or cloudiness in the urine
Foul odor to the urine
No urine.