Published
So why are Carpujects used? Is it to help control drug diversion? Is it somehow safer? I am so confused about the purpose of them because it doesnt change the way you administer the med. If its ordered for IV push then you push it...ect. I have google it but no answers...
I use the 'ject for 99.9% of medication administrations. I work on an impatient hospice unit and give my fair share of morphine, Dilaudid and Ativan!! I have at least 2 in my pockets at all times. The pharmacy keeps plenty of them stocked for us!
But....you're diluting the Ativan, correct? So you shouldn't used a carpujet for that med.
I have NEVER seen ativan come in a vial for compatiable with a carpujet but you only have to dilute ativan if it is being used in a perphial iv. Picc,Pac ect...does not not need to be diluted.
I've never seen it either, which is why I commented.
If your giving it via a picc, hopefully it's in a 10cc syringe. In that case, I still dilute it. It's so thick that I like to inject extra saline into the vial (using a pre filled saline flush) and make sure my pt gets every single drop, lol.
So I got in a debate with a paramedic the other day. They had 4mg/ml carpujet of morphine they dosed the patient and then were telling me there was 6 mg in the vial, because there is 2mg in 0.5mg, Any ideas where they would have got this idea? Obviously theres only 4mg in it.
Do you mean that there is 2mg in 0.5ml?
Accidentally threw away my preceptor's Carpuject into the sharps container in nsg school... she actually convinced the housekeeper to open the bin up, and fished it out with a pair of hemostats... naughty-naughty!! I was SO embarassed!!!! LOL
That is absolutely disgusting! One call to pharmacy will get you a whole bag of carpujects or better yet just draw it out of the tube with a normal needle and syringe like most people do. That is just risking patients and staff for no reason, the thought of this makes me want to vomit. I hope this nurse NEVER cares for myself or my family!
HPRN
MN-Nurse, ASN, RN
1,398 Posts
When I was a home health and hospice aide I would occasionally fill in at the hospice residence my company ran. The LPN was like Wyatt Earp with those bad boys.