[funeek8RN]

hi-
i'm new to the ICU and was wondering if there is a protocol to discarding unused propofol from a drip? do you need to waste like a narcotic drip or can you just discard? thanks!

[FLAreN]

It's based on your hospital policy but we just discard it.

[Nurseboy1]

My hospital doesn't consider propofol a controlled substance, so we simply discard it.

[Hoozdo]

We also discard. If you to waste it, it is very difficult to get that bottle open!

[cardiacRN2006]

I always put it in the big needle box, but that's just so it's doesn't break in the trash when the housekeepers have to haul the bag out. But I certainly don't count up how many mLs are left!

[K98]

We toss it in the trash.

[srna2008]

trash it

[ChelleChelle]

Check with your hospital pharmacy to see if your institution has a specific policy.

Because it it is a glass bottle, I put it in the biohazard trash (all glass items go in there) or in a needle box.

[Marie_LPN, RN]

I draw the left over out with a needle and syringe, and spray the med in the sink. Glass bottle goes in the sharps.

[Riker3]

It's definitely based on your hospital's policy. Where I currently work, we just discard. At my prior hospital, you and a witness had to estimate the volume left in the bottle and then drain the waste down the sink and record. We had major issues with people stealing Propofol and even one of our doctors OD and died.