Implementing female external catheters in practice and educating students on their use
To refresh your knowledge on the effects of urinary incontinence and the risks of urethral catheterisation
To find out about female external catheters (FECs) and their use in clinical practice
To learn how one university in England introduced education for nursing students on the use of FECs
Urethral catheterisation is an invasive procedure that carries a high risk of complications, notably catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Until recently, there were few alternatives to indwelling urinary catheters other than continence pads, but recent advances have included the development of female external catheters (FECs). FECs are external devices placed between the labial folds that collect urine and divert it away from the body using suction. This article provides an overview of the use of FECs for managing urinary incontinence in people with female anatomy. Additionally, it describes how education on FEC use was introduced in the undergraduate nursing curriculum at one university in England.
