about injections: are filters important for ampuled drugs?

CRNAsoon · Sep 25, 2004

I was also taught this in school, but our institution doesn't use them.

jkaee · Sep 25, 2004

I have to give a lot of b12 shots out of ampules, but we don't ever use filters. I know how school teachings can differ from "real life", but I'm nervous about not using them. I read that microscopic shrapnels can contaminate the liquids when breaking the ampules, and that these could cause them to dislogde somewhere unpleasant in the body. Can any please help tell me what their experience has been?

I have ALWAYS used filtered needles when drawing up from ampules, just for the reasons you stated above. I wouldn't feel comfortable not using a filter...I've seen amps break into pieces when they were opened....nope, I'd insist on filtered needles. I'd just order some from pharmacy, or if you can't do that, go to the nurse manager and tell her your concerns. Just my opinion!

pedineuronurse · Sep 25, 2004

we always use filter needles when drawing out of ampules at my hospital. i wouldn't do it any other way. please mention your concerns to your nurse manager and if they are not receptive go higher up on the chain of command.

LadyMadonna · Sep 25, 2004

We don't use them at the facility where I work, either. In fact...until two years ago they were using BAR soap on the residents!

LadyMadonna · Sep 25, 2004

I was also taught this in school, but our institution doesn't use them.

Wow, I envy you so much! CRNA...is it as hard to get into CRNA school as they say it is?

dphrn · Sep 25, 2004

The only way to draw from a glass ampule is WITH a filtered needle. There is no excuse not to. If your facility does not have them, please go through whatever channels you must to get them.

For the reasons you mentioned in your post, if you don't use them, you are putting your patient at risk not to mention your license.

allele, LPN · Sep 26, 2004

I always use a filtered needle, can't imagine not using it. Our Astromorph comes in ampules.......can you imagine injecting that into someones epidural catheter WITHOUT using a filtered needle? I couldn't take the chance. :)

Farkinott, RN · Sep 26, 2004

I have never even heard of a filtered needle! I have a feeling they were created for the litigious society that the USA is. Unfortunately (but true) too many people are looking to blame someone when an adverse event may just be bad luck.

Iif you think about it junkies can use for years using some very dodgy needling/injection practices. May diabetics have less than perfect technique and I can teach a renal patient to igive themselves their epo in 15 min! It ain't rocket science!

dphrn · Sep 26, 2004

I have never even heard of a filtered needle! I have a feeling they were created for the litigious society that the USA is. Unfortunately (but true) too many people are looking to blame someone when an adverse event may just be bad luck.
Iif you think about it junkies can use for years using some very dodgy needling/injection practices. May diabetics have less than perfect technique and I can teach a renal patient to igive themselves their epo in 15 min! It ain't rocket science!

The use of a filtered needle has NOTHING to do with teaching a patient how to give epo or whether a diabetic has perfect technique. We are not talking about vials. We are talking about single use GLASS AMPULES.

A filtered needle is used when you break a GLASS ampule and then draw up your medicine from that ampule. It prevents any microscopic pieces of glass from entering into your syringe and then into a patients vein, which can then travel to another location in their body. If this occured because you did not use a filtered needle, you better believe you would have a legitimate lawsuit on your hands.

Please familarize yourself with the use of filtered needles. If an adverse effect occured because you did not use a filtered needle when indicated (glass ampules), it would not be "bad luck", it would be poor nursing.

RN_Amy, RN · Sep 26, 2004

I have never even heard of a filtered needle! I have a feeling they were created for the litigious society that the USA is. Unfortunately (but true) too many people are looking to blame someone when an adverse event may just be bad luck.
Iif you think about it junkies can use for years using some very dodgy needling/injection practices. May diabetics have less than perfect technique and I can teach a renal patient to igive themselves their epo in 15 min! It ain't rocket science!

I too had never heard of filtered needles until I read about them on this website. So no... I dont use them... and have never heard of or seen them in any hospitals I have worked at in both Victoria and Queensland in Australia... are they even AVAILABLE in Australia....???

epiphany · Sep 26, 2004

Thanks everyone, for your input. I am still not sure about the benefits of filters, because quite a few people I've asked don't use them in their workplace. A NP who has worked for 30 years told me that she's never seen a filter used. But of course I want to err on the side of safety, so I am going to bring this up with management. I am glad to hear that some of you do use them, because as a new nurse, you don't know if you're being overly paranoid.