Catheterisation Training

Catheterisation Course Outline

1. Understanding the Urinary System
   • Understand the basic anatomy and function of the urinary system.
   • Understand why urinary catheterisation may be required.
   • Recognise the differences between male, female and suprapubic catheterisation.
2. Types of Urinary Catheters
   • Explore common catheter types, including Foley and intermittent catheters.
   • Understand the purpose and appropriate use of different catheter types.
   • Understand the key considerations when selecting a catheter.
3. Indications and Contraindications
   • Understand when urinary catheterisation may be clinically required.
   • Recognise situations where catheterisation may be unsuitable or require further clinical assessment.
   • Understand the importance of following local policies and clinical guidance.
4. Safe Catheter Insertion and Removal
   • Learn the correct steps for urinary catheter insertion.
   • Develop practical skills using appropriate equipment and training models.
   • Understand the correct procedure for catheter removal.
   • Recognise the importance of following the correct technique throughout the procedure.
5. Infection Prevention and Aseptic Technique
   • Understand the principles of infection prevention during catheterisation.
   • Apply appropriate hand hygiene and aseptic technique.
   • Understand how poor technique can increase the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).
6. Catheter Management and Basic Care
   • Understand the key principles of catheter care following insertion.
   • Recognise common problems such as leakage, blockage and discomfort.
   • Know when concerns should be reported and escalated appropriately.
7. Patient Consent, Dignity and Comfort
   • Understand the importance of informed consent before catheterisation.
   • Maintain the patient’s dignity, privacy and comfort throughout the procedure.
   • Communicate clearly with patients before, during and after catheterisation.
8. Recognising Complications
   • Recognise common complications associated with urinary catheterisation.
   • Identify signs that may require further assessment or escalation.
   • Understand the importance of accurate reporting and documentation.
9. Evidence-Based Practice
   • Understand current best practice for safe urinary catheterisation.
   • Follow relevant clinical guidance, local policies and procedures.
   • Apply safe working practices to reduce avoidable risks.
10. Practical Skills Assessment and Review

• Complete supervised practical catheterisation training.
• Practise insertion and removal using appropriate training equipment.
• Review key skills and address questions with an experienced trainer.
• Complete a practical skills assessment where required.

Course Includes

• Supervised practical catheterisation training
• Practical skills using appropriate training equipment
• Experienced trainer-led instruction
• Time to ask questions and revisit key skills
• Certificate of completion

Course Information:

• Course Duration: 4- 6 hours
• Course Level: Level 3
• Certificate: 2-year certificate
• Max Delegates: 12
• Practical: Yes
• Course Mode: Face-to-Face

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Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the basic anatomy and function of the urinary system.
• Explain the purpose of urinary catheterisation and when it may be required.
• Identify common types of urinary catheters and their uses.
• Explain the differences between male, female and suprapubic catheterisation.
• Recognise situations where catheterisation may be appropriate or require further clinical assessment.
• Demonstrate the correct principles and steps for safe catheter insertion and removal.
• Apply appropriate infection prevention and aseptic techniques.
• Explain how to maintain patient dignity, privacy, comfort and consent throughout the procedure.
• Recognise common catheterisation complications and know when to report or escalate concerns.
• Apply appropriate documentation and reporting procedures.
• Demonstrate safe catheterisation skills during supervised practical assessment.
• Follow relevant clinical guidance, local policies and evidence-based practice.

Who is the training for?

Catheterisation Training is designed for clinical staff who are required to insert or remove urinary catheters as part of their role, including:

• Registered Nurses (RNs/RMNs/RLDNs)
• Student nurses and clinical trainees
• Senior support workers or HCAs who are authorised to perform catheterisation
• Allied health professionals involved in catheter care pathways
• Staff working in services where catheter insertion may be required, such as hospitals, community teams, care homes, and supported living

This training is not suitable for non‑clinical staff or anyone who is not permitted to carry out catheterisation. Those staff should instead complete Catheter Care Training, which covers safe ongoing management of existing catheters.

Catheterisation Course Benefits

Catheterisation Training provides essential knowledge and hands‑on clinical skills for safe urinary catheter insertion, removal and ongoing care. The course strengthens patient safety, supports regulatory compliance, and builds practitioner confidence across male, female and suprapubic catheterisation.

Key Benefits

• Prevent CAUTIs and reduce infection risk Learners develop correct aseptic and sterile techniques proven to reduce Catheter‑Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) and improve overall patient safety.
• Ensure patient comfort and dignity Staff learn respectful, person‑centred techniques that minimise discomfort, uphold dignity and improve the patient experience during catheterisation.
• Build clinical confidence and competence Practical, supervised training using realistic simulation models helps staff perform catheter insertion and removal safely, confidently and consistently.
• Meet professional, legal and regulatory standards Training aligns with NICE QS61, RCN Catheter Care, Royal Marsden procedures and local NHS policies, supporting compliance with CQC expectations for safe care and treatment.
• Reduce complications and improve outcomes Participants learn to recognise and manage issues such as blockages, trauma, incorrect placement and infection — helping reduce readmissions, incidents and long‑term risks.
• Strengthen decision‑making and clinical judgement Learners understand indications for catheter use, device selection, escalation pathways and when to seek senior clinical support.
• Support patient independence and self‑care For individuals performing self‑catheterisation, training builds confidence, promotes independence and improves long‑term wellbeing.
• Improve documentation and monitoring Staff learn correct recording, monitoring of urine output, and safe management of catheter systems — supporting accurate clinical documentation and governance.
• Enhance service quality and patient satisfaction By reducing complications, improving comfort and ensuring safe practice, catheterisation training contributes to better long‑term health outcomes and higher-quality care.

Catheterisation vs Catheter Care Training

Onsite Catheterisation Training

Onsite catheterisation training brings our clinical experts directly to your service, allowing staff to learn in their own environment using the equipment, policies and real‑world scenarios they work with every day. It’s ideal for teams who need consistent, safe and compliant catheterisation practice across male, female and suprapubic methods.

Training is tailored to your setting — whether a care home, community team, supported living service or NHS unit — ensuring staff gain practical skills in aseptic technique, safe insertion and removal, recognising complications, and maintaining patient dignity. Onsite delivery also supports stronger teamwork, reduces travel costs, and helps services meet CQC expectations for safe care and treatment.

How We Deliver Onsite Catheterisation Training

We provide catheterisation training directly at your workplace, allowing your team to learn in a familiar environment using your own equipment, policies and real‑world scenarios. Our delivery approach is practical, flexible and shaped around the needs of your service.

• Training delivered at your premises Our clinical trainers travel to your location anywhere in the UK, making attendance easier and reducing disruption to staff routines.
• Flexible session times Sessions are arranged at dates and times that suit your team, including mornings, afternoons or full‑day training.
• Content tailored to your service The course is adapted to the people you support, your clinical processes, and any catheter‑related challenges your staff encounter.
• Hands‑on, practical learning Learners take part in demonstrations, guided practice and scenario‑based activities to build confidence in safe catheter insertion, removal and complication management.
• Real‑life examples from your setting Trainers use situations relevant to your organisation to help staff apply best practice in day‑to‑day catheter care.
• Active group involvement Group discussions, Q&A and team exercises encourage engagement and shared learning across your staff team.

What You Need to Put in Place

• A quiet room with enough space for practical catheterisation demonstrations.
• Chairs, a table and a screen/projector if available (we can bring equipment).
• Staff released from duties for the full session.
• Any relevant care plans or catheter‑related documentation.
• Basic service information and learning goals.
• Site access rules or health and safety requirements.
• A named contact to meet the trainer and coordinate attendees.
• Nearby accessible restroom facilities.
• Drinking water and, if possible, tea or coffee.
• Guest Wi‑Fi if available for digital resources.

Catheterisation Course FAQs

What is the difference between Catheter Care and Catheterisation Training?

Catheter Care focuses on the ongoing management of a person with a urinary catheter, including hygiene, drainage bags, monitoring and recognising problems. Catheterisation Training focuses on the clinical procedure of inserting and removing a catheter safely, including infection prevention, patient dignity and correct technique.

Which course should I take if I only need to care for patients with catheters?

Catheter Care Training is generally the more suitable option if your role involves looking after people who already have a catheter. It can cover daily hygiene, drainage systems, monitoring, complications and when concerns should be escalated to an appropriate healthcare professional.

Can care staff take Catheterisation Training?

This depends on the person’s role, clinical responsibilities, previous training and employer requirements. Catheterisation is a clinical procedure and should only be carried out by staff who are appropriately trained, competent and authorised to perform it within their scope of practice.

Is Catheter Care Training suitable for non-clinical staff?

It may be suitable for staff whose responsibilities include supporting people with existing catheters, depending on their role and employer’s requirements. The training should match their permitted duties. Staff should not perform clinical procedures such as catheter insertion unless they are appropriately trained, competent and authorised.

Can nurses take Catheter Care Training instead of Catheterisation Training?

Yes, if the nurse’s role only requires them to manage and monitor patients who already have urinary catheters. However, if they are expected to insert or remove catheters, they need appropriate catheterisation training and competency assessment for the procedures they will perform.

Which course is better for healthcare assistants?

The right course depends on the healthcare assistant’s duties and level of clinical responsibility. Catheter Care Training may be more appropriate for staff providing routine catheter care, while Catheterisation Training may be suitable where staff are authorised, trained and required to perform catheterisation procedures.

Do I need practical training to insert a catheter?

Yes. Reading guidance or completing theoretical learning alone does not demonstrate practical competence in catheterisation. Staff who are expected to perform the procedure should receive appropriate practical training, practise under suitable supervision and have their competence assessed before carrying out catheterisation independently.

Should I choose Catheter Care or Catheterisation Training for my team?

Start by looking at what your staff are expected to do. If they only provide ongoing catheter management, Catheter Care Training may be appropriate. If they need to insert or remove catheters, choose Catheterisation Training that includes the relevant practical skills and competency assessment.

Which training do I need to learn how to insert a catheter?

If you need to develop the skills required to insert and remove urinary catheters, you should choose Catheterisation Training designed for your professional and clinical role. This type of training covers the clinical procedure, including preparation, insertion, removal, infection prevention and maintaining patient dignity.

Does Catheter Care Training teach catheter insertion?

Not usually. Catheter Care Training generally focuses on the ongoing management of an existing catheter rather than teaching the full insertion procedure. If your responsibility includes inserting or removing urinary catheters, you should check that the course specifically includes practical catheterisation training and competency assessment.

When should you renew your catheterisation certificate?

Catheterisation certificates should be refreshed every 1-2 years to maintain safe practice, competence and compliance. Renew sooner if your role changes, you haven’t performed the procedure recently, or an incident highlights a training gap. Regular updates help reduce risks and meet clinical standards.

Can I start inserting catheters if I have completed the training?

Completing catheterisation training does not automatically make you competent to insert catheters. You must also be assessed and signed off in your workplace according to local policy. Training provides the theory and practice, but competency must be confirmed by an authorised assessor.

What skills would I gain?

You’ll gain practical skills in safe catheter insertion and removal, aseptic technique, recognising complications, selecting the correct catheter, maintaining patient dignity, and completing accurate documentation. Training also builds confidence, infection‑prevention awareness and competence aligned with clinical and regulatory standards.

Should we book onsite training over individual face‑to‑face?

Onsite training is usually better for teams, as staff learn together in their own environment with content tailored to your service. It’s more cost‑effective for groups and improves consistency. Individual face‑to‑face is ideal when only one or two staff need training.

What organisations should train their staff in catheter care and catheterisation?

Any organisation where staff support people with urinary catheters should provide training. This includes care homes, home‑care providers, supported living, community nursing teams, GP practices, hospitals and rehabilitation services. Clinical staff who insert catheters require catheterisation training; care staff need catheter care training.

Do you need prior experience to attend this course?

No prior experience is required. The course is suitable for learners new to catheterisation, providing the theory and supervised practice needed to build safe, confident skills. Workplace competency must still be signed off according to local policy.

What is the difference between workplace competency and classroom competency?

Classroom competency covers the theory and supervised practice completed during training. Workplace competency is the formal sign‑off in your clinical setting, where an authorised assessor observes you performing catheterisation safely according to local policy.