Promoting patient safety in continence care

Continence care is a fundamental component of nursing. Good quality continence care supports patient dignity and improves quality of life significantly. However, as with all aspects of health care, patients face a number of risks during the delivery of continence care and, perhaps more importantly, are at risk of harm when care is not given to the required standard. This article focuses on essential elements of continence care and explores pertinent risks to patient safety, which may occur if care is not individualised or delivered appropriately.