PROCEDURE CHECKLIST

Chapter 27: Applying an External (Condom) Catheter

Check (9) Yes or No

PROCEDURE STEPS Yes No COMMENTS

1. Assesses skin of the penis.
2. Uses clean technique throughout (medical asepsis).
3. Prepares the leg bag or bedside drainage bag for
attachment to the condom catheter by removing it from the
packaging and placing the end of the connecting tubing
near the perineal area.
4. Rolls the condom catheter outward onto itself to
prepare for rolling up and onto the penis.
5. Places the patient in the supine position. For patients
whose respiratory efforts may be impaired, raises the head
of the bed to 30°.
6. Folds down the bedcovers to expose the genitalia and
drapes the patient, using the bath blanket.
7. Washes hands.
8. Dons clean procedure gloves.
9. Gently cleanses the penis with soap and water. Rinses
and dries thoroughly.
10. If the penis is uncircumcised, retracts the foreskin,
cleanses the glans and replaces the foreskin.
11. Clips excess hair along the shaft of the penis, unless
contraindicated by policy or patient’s condition.
12. Washes hands; changes procedure gloves.
13. Measures circumference of the penis. Ensures catheter
is appropriately sized.
14. Applies skin prep (according to agency policy) and
allows it to dry. (Some condom catheters require that a
special adhesive strip be placed onto the penis prior to
application of the condom; follows manufacturer’s
directions.)
15. Holding penis in nondominant hand, with dominant
hand places the condom at the end of the penis and slowly
unrolls it up and along the shaft.
16. Leaves 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) between the end of
the penis and the drainage tube on the catheter.
17. Secures condom catheter in place on the penis.
a. Ensures that the condom is not twisted.
b. For condom catheters with internal adhesive, gently
grasps the penis and compresses so that the entire shaft

Copyright © 2007, F. A. Davis Company, Wilkinson & Van Leuven/Procedure Checklists for Fundamentals of Nursing
 comes in contact with the condom.
c. For condom catheters with external adhesives strips,
wraps the strip around the outside of the condom in a
spiral direction, taking care not to overlap the ends.
18. Does not use regular bandage tape to hold a condom
catheter in place.
19. Assesses the proximal end of the condom catheter. If
there is a large portion of the condom still rolled above the
adhesive strip, clips the roll.
20. Attaches the tube end of the condom catheter to a
drainage system, making sure there are no kinks in the
tubing.
21. Secures the drainage tubing to the patient’s thigh using
tape or a commercial leg strap (follow facility protocol)..
22. Covers the patient.
23. Removes gloves and washes the hands.

Recommendation: Pass ______ Needs more practice ______

Student: Date:

Instructor: Date:

Copyright © 2007, F. A. Davis Company, Wilkinson & Van Leuven/Procedure Checklists for Fundamentals of Nursing