Use of a continence nurse specialist in an extended care facility

The aim of this study was to determine if the number of incontinence episodes for an elderly female population could be decreased through an individualized continence program in a Connecticut long-term care center.

Forty-two female residents who in a long-term care facility who were incontinent or had urgency related to overactive bladder were included in the incontinence program. Total numbers of incontinent episodes for each participant were recorded 1 week prior to the study. An individualized plan of care for each patient was developed by the continence specialist and the plan of care implemented for at least 1 year.

After the continence specialist recommended a program of treatment and the program of treatment was implemented for 1 year, the number of UTIs (31 preintervention year; 6 postintervention year) and pressure ulcers (15 preintervention year; 2 postintervention year) were substantially decreased and the number of falls cut by more than 50% (18 preintervention; 7 postintervention).

A nurse continence specialist can be used to help long-term care facilities plan a program that will direct individualized nursing interventions that will improve patient outcomes related to UTI, pressure sore and fall rates, and reduce the costs of care.