Huber needle sterile technique

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a student in my last clinical rotation. I recently was giving an infusion to a port with a Huber needle. This needle did not have any safety lock. I was confused as to when the sterile gloves were donned. How long has sterile technique for these infusions been practiced? I was failed for not knowing when to put the sterile gloves on and some of the literature is confusing.

Thank you

Specializes in critical care.

I am confused...was the port already accessed? If so then infusions are the same as with any IV therapy, just remember if not a continuous IV infusion, and there are no contraindications Heparinize the port after infusion is completed. Now if you were recanulating the port, it is a sterile procedure after you remove the current huber needle.

I was initiating a a 2 hr. infusion for this pt. and was not sure when to don the sterile gloves. My mentor had me set up, I palpated the port and she told me to put the sterile gloves on.

Thank you.

Okay - she wanted you to have on sterile gloves while you palpated the port?? I'm confused.

You palpate the port first with clean hands to make sure you know where you're going, then get all your supplies opened, the huber primed, cap on the end of the huber tubing, etc, and THEN you put on sterile gloves to begin cleaning with chloraprep. But the hand that you use to stabilize the port while you're actually putting the needle in is no longer sterile after you've touched skin. After the huber is in, check for blood return, flush the rest of the saline, then cover it with tegaderm/opsite/whatever. From there the infusion is just like any other PIV - connect the tubing to the cap of the huber tubing and you're good to go!

Hope that makes sense - that's how we do my port every week and it works beautifully! Good luck!

I had everything ready. Clean gloves on when I set up and palpated the port and then was reminded to put the sterile gloves on. In essence there was no sterile field other than the from the glove containment. Should I have been failed for not knowing what point to put the gloves on?

Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

When I access a port I palpate first without gloves to make sure I know where the port is. Then I open up the central line dressing kit which has the sterile gloves in it. I apply the mask. I drop the rest of my sterile supplies on my sterile surface (Huber needle and 10 cc syringe). I set a vial of NS next to my sterile set up but cannot drop it on my field because it is not packaged sterile. I also open up an 18 g needle package but do not drop it on my field. Next, I don one sterile glove on my dominant hand. Holding the sterile syringe with my gloved hand I use my non-gloved hand screw the 18 g needle onto the sterile syringe. Next I hold the NS vial with my non sterile hand and draw up 10 cc of NS. Next I remove the 18 g needle with my non-sterile hand and throw it away. Now I have a sterile 10cc flush of NS and can don my other sterile glove. Next I flush the huber needle with the 10cc syringe and leave it attached to the syringe. The next step is prepping the skin with the Chloraprep or betadine/alcohol--whichever is used at your facility. Once the skin is dry I use my my sterile non-dominant hand to stabilize the port and use my dominant hand to access it. After it is accessed and you are still sterile you can check for patency of the port. If it is patent you may apply the dressing according to your facilities policy.

Specializes in TraumaER ,NICUx2days, HEMEONC CathLab IV.
When I access a port I palpate first without gloves to make sure I know where the port is. Then I open up the central line dressing kit which has the sterile gloves in it. I apply the mask. I drop the rest of my sterile supplies on my sterile surface (Huber needle and 10 cc syringe). I set a vial of NS next to my sterile set up but cannot drop it on my field because it is not packaged sterile. I also open up an 18 g needle package but do not drop it on my field. Next, I don one sterile glove on my dominant hand. Holding the sterile syringe with my gloved hand I use my non-gloved hand screw the 18 g needle onto the sterile syringe. Next I hold the NS vial with my non sterile hand and draw up 10 cc of NS. Next I remove the 18 g needle with my non-sterile hand and throw it away. Now I have a sterile 10cc flush of NS and can don my other sterile glove. Next I flush the huber needle with the 10cc syringe and leave it attached to the syringe. The next step is prepping the skin with the Chloraprep or betadine/alcohol--whichever is used at your facility. Once the skin is dry I use my my sterile non-dominant hand to stabilize the port and use my dominant hand to access it. After it is accessed and you are still sterile you can check for patency of the port. If it is patent you may apply the dressing according to your facilities policy.

you got it down!

Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.
i had everything ready. clean gloves on when i set up and palpated the port and then was reminded to put the sterile gloves on.in essence there was no sterile field other than the from the glove containment. should i have been failed for not knowing what point to put

the gloves on?

you should have been 'mentored' on using a central line dsg kit and how to add items to your field for port access, i don't think you were at fault, you should have been given better instruction/review of the procedure ,and walked thru it especially if its your first time :stone

Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

A good instructor will review the steps with you outside the room to assure your success. Next time ask them to do this for you...... after all you are still learning. :nuke:

She went thru it outside the door. Very quickly so I was still a little confused from the amount of information. I would have appreciated a walk through and I know that the next time I would have not forgotten. I was not given that chance, my instructor was called and I was not allowed to graduate with my BSN with 2 days left to go in this rotation. I was not even told that this was going to happen. Needless to say I will file a grievance.

Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.
She went thru it outside the door. Very quickly so I was still a little confused from the amount of information. I would have appreciated a walk through and I know that the next time I would have not forgotten. I was not given that chance, my instructor was called and I was not allowed to graduate with my BSN with 2 days left to go in this rotation. I was not even told that this was going to happen. Needless to say I will file a grievance.

that TOTALLY SUCKS!!! :madface::no: :nono: IM GLAD YOU FILED A GRIEVANCE, I HOPE YOU FIND VINDICATION, GOOD LUCK :wink2:

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