How to remove a urinary catheter
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In Making Synapses you practice it on the patient.
Remove catheters as early as possible. Watch that the patient voids afterward.
Step by step
Check the order
And explain. [1]
Empty and position
Empty the bag, gloves on, drape. [1]
Deflate
Syringe on the balloon port; let it fill passively until all the water is out. [1]
Remove
Pull gently as the patient breathes out; stop if resistance. [1]
Clean and record
Clean the area, measure urine, record time. [1]
Monitor
The patient should void within about 6 to 8 hours; bladder scan if not. [1]
Common errors
- Cutting the balloon port.
- Pulling with resistance.
- Not checking voiding.
Practice it in Making Synapses
In Making Synapses you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
Making Synapses cases that train this skill
Sources
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
- OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (reference)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Facts and steps also follow OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (reference). Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.