Urinal (health care)

A urinal, urine bottle, or male urinal is a bottle for urination.[1] It is most frequently used in health care for patients who find it impossible or difficult to get out of bed during sleep. Urinals allow the patient who has cognition and movement of their arms to urinate without the help of staff.

A male urinal

Celadon urine bottle 251 CE. Nanjing, China.

Urinals can also be used as part of input and output measurement.

Generally, patients who are able to are encouraged to walk to the toilet or use a bedside commode as opposed to a urinal. The prolonged use of a urinal has been shown to lead to constipation or trouble urinating.[2]

Urinals are most frequently used for male patients, since they are easier to use with male anatomy. While female urinals exist, they are more difficult to use, and the common practice for females is to use a bedpan.[3] Female urinals require a wider opening and must be placed between the legs.[4] For many women, female urinals are more practical in a wheelchair rather than in a bed.[5] But the opening part of urinal may get infected by the germs and can be disinfected by various chemicals.

References

1. King, E.M.; Wieck, L.; Dyer, M. (1981). Illustrated Manual of Nursing Techniques. Lippincott. p. 453. ISBN 9780397542840. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
2. Belland, K.H.; Wells, M.A. (1986). Clinical Nursing Procedures. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. p. 26. ISBN 9780867203745. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
3. Simmers, L. (2008). Diversified Health Occupations. Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781418030216. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
4. Harman, R.J. (2002). Patient Care in Community Practice: A Handbook of Non-medicinal Healthcare. Pharmaceutical Press. p. 46. ISBN 9780853694502. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
5. Newman, D.K.; Dzurinko, M.K. (1997). The Urinary Incontinence Sourcebook. Lowell House. p. 258. ISBN 9781565656482. Retrieved 2015-08-04.