Blunt Fill Needles for IM injections?

[cb57]

Can blunt fill needles be used for IM injections?

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

30 minutes ago, turtlesRcool said:

Interesting. We don't have blunt filter needles at my hospital. Like you, we have blunt fills for drawing from syringes. Then we have filter tips for drawing from ampules, but they are straw-like, and have no point on the end. You physically could not do an injection with them (even if you wanted to) because they are clear flexible plastic - it would just bend if you jammed it against a person's skin.

I guess the hospitals provide supplies based on the fluctuating bottom line. We have been know to run out, and had to use a regular syringe for drawing up medication, and then change to the appropriate gauge for actual injection.

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

38 minutes ago, turtlesRcool said:

Interesting. We don't have blunt filter needles at my hospital. Like you, we have blunt fills for drawing from syringes. Then we have filter tips for drawing from ampules, but they are straw-like, and have no point on the end. You physically could not do an injection with them (even if you wanted to) because they are clear flexible plastic - it would just bend if you jammed it against a person's skin.

I’ve used the straw filters and needle filters, and then we have blunts to draw meds from vials. My current facility doesn't have blunts so we use a regular large gauge safety needle to draw and I don’t like it.

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

On 5/24/2020 at 11:20 AM, BSNbeDONE said:

I guess the hospitals provide supplies based on the fluctuating bottom line. We have been know to run out, and had to use a regular syringe for drawing up medication, and then change to the appropriate gauge for actual injection.

We don’t use ampules at my work (outpatient clinic) but we do use vials. I always just use a regular needle to draw it up, then exchange it for a new one to inject it. (The exchange is just so that the needle is nice and sharp). I sort of wish we had special blunt ones to draw up with!

[TriciaJ, RN]

Yes you could use a blunt fill needle to administer an IM. As long as you really hate the person, there is no chance of getting caught and you have no compassion or ethics whatsoever.

[42pines]

You're scaring me...

Short answer: “No!”

BD Blunt Fill Needle with Filter Box states: “Not for skin injections.” The same warning is on BD Blunt Fill Needles: See

https://www.amazon.com/Blunt-Fill-18G-count-305181/dp/B074N9MRMV/ref=pd_lpo_328_t_1/142-7698219-9353356?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B074N9MRMV&pd_rd_r=7f041378-70ee-4470-b549-e0989e426e52&pd_rd_w=2X2P1&pd_rd_wg=b02oW&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=EXYGMK4FMF2GESSNCRG6&psc=1&refRID=EXYGMK4FMF2GESSNCRG6

All BD blunt needles have a red cap to remind: Not for skin injection.

Check out this video, it’s a BD Blunt Fill and Blunt Filter Needle in-service video

https://www.bd.com/en-us/company/video-gallery?video=5813395285001

[shiftingtides]

Ouch.

[AddictionNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Yikes. NO- please do not use a filter needle to give IM injections.

[toomuchbaloney]

On 5/23/2020 at 7:23 AM, cb57 said:

Can blunt fill needles be used for IM injections?

Did you use them for injections when you worked as a medical assistant or EMT?

[Mickey9700, RN]

If you're speaking about the blunt fill needles that you use to draw up meds, then attach the actual needle you're going to inject the patient with, no. Those specifically say they are for filling the syringes only. They are red.

[PediatricMA]

Would you be okay with getting an injection with a blunt needle? I know I wouldn't be. ?

[42pines]

It occurred to me that some have never been taught how to use meds from glass ampules and might have read "use a filter needle," with no extra, "...then change to a regular needle."

Using a filter needle to withdraw meds from a glass ampule is not really (imo) particularly self-evident.

Here is a video on Youtube that's simple, yet effective that shows the role of breaking an ampule, withdrawing the medication, then changing the filter needle for an IM needle. For most here it's old hat, but some it might be helpful to grasp the concept.

Withdrawing Medications from Ampule

Withdrawing Medications from Ampule

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?v=Vs8nuO8N4Fs

Note: I wipe the glass ampule with an alcohol wipe and then break it. I'm not sure that is best practice, perhaps someone else knows?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

I've used alcohol pad too.. more protective as top totally covered by pad; we didn't have non-sterile 2x2's too.