Ostomy/wound management
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The Georgetown Mantra of Bioethics, which includes the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice, has largely been regarded as the mainstay of ethical principles in the healthcare setting. Moral or ethical decisions have been discussed using this framework. The purpose of this article is to argue that the ethics of compassion is a critical principle in making clinical decisions, especially in the case of the chronically ill patient. This suggests that the ethics of compassion may serve as an important adjunct to the Georgetown Mantra.
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An indwelling urethral (Foley) catheter is a closed sterile system that is inserted through the urethra to allow for bladder drainage. In the 1930's Frederick Foley designed a rubber tube with a separate lumen used to inflate a balloon which holds the catheter in place in the bladder. Historically, indwelling catheters primarily have been used in chronic, medically compromised elderly patients. ⋯ However, most nurses will agree that managing this type of system poses multiple medical and nursing care problems. In fact, Foley catheters are associated with several complications and side effects that increase patient morbidity and mortality. This article reviews current strategies for providing good catheter management as well as steps for retraining the patient following catheter removal.