Successful intermittent self-catheterization teaching: one nurse's strategy of how and what to teach.

Learning how to perform intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) can be a daunting task for the patient with a newly diagnosed voiding dysfunction. The nurse can facilitate this learning process by working with the patient until knowledge and confidence is gained to successfully perform self-catheterization. Teaching ISC requires a knowledgeable and skilled nurse who can recognize the patient's physical and psychological readiness; instruct the patient in anatomy, physiology, and the disease process, as well as guide the patient through the procedure.