Best practice for unused med in amp

[Amanda739]

I have a quick question. I just returned to work after surgery and my first day back. I found the nurses using the same syringe and cannula through out the shift for drawing up and admitting morphine into a cylsis line (sc line) they will use the same syringe fir multiple ampules. I was told they can use the same syringe for 1 shift (12hrs) the resident gets 0.5mg every 2hrs prn. So they will take the syringe down to the residents room with 1mg administer 0.5mg and save the rest 0.5mg for next time. Once syringe is empty they use it again and draw up another 1ml through a new amp,

i believe this is not best practice. Wouldn't it be best practice to draw up what you need with one syringe and labels and then draw up remaining morphine in another syringe and Lable it.

What at do you think is best practice. I think the way they are doing puts them at a increased risk of med error and puts the resident at risk for infection.

We we have a staff meeting this afternoon. And really want to bring this up. Just really what others input

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

If they are not giving the whole vial, why are they not wasting it?? Seems like a BON nightmare. Not to mention the issues you already stated. I would pull out what was ordered, waste the remaining if any and use a new syringe each time.

[Amanda739]

Yes!!! I 100% agree with you. But where I work, they want to save as much money as possible.