When emptying a urinary catheter, what is the correct procedure for the CNA?

The correct procedure involves emptying the drainage bag into a graduated container and reading the amount of urine at eye level. This method ensures that you can accurately measure the volume of urine, which is crucial for monitoring the patient’s output as part of their care plan. Accurately measuring urinary output is important because it provides essential information about the patient's kidney function and overall fluid balance.

Using a graduated container allows for a precise measurement, which can be vital in assessing the patient's hydration status or detecting potential complications. Reading the measurement at eye level prevents parallax errors and ensures you are getting an accurate reading, which is essential in a clinical setting.

Other methods, such as pouring urine directly into a toilet or a regular container, can lead to inaccuracies in measuring the urine output. Additionally, capping and discarding the drainage bag is not a proper practice for monitoring output, as it does not allow for measurement or recording of the urine.