Difference in Needles

Chttynurs · May 24, 2003

You were taught right--meds being being drawn from a glass ampule should be drawn with a filter needle, then switched to a regular needle/cannula. At least that was what I was taught, in case any tiny shards of glass fall into the ampule. I've never seen anyone do different. Maybe there's new info out there that says it's not necessary? Congrats on graduating, by the way! :)

CCL"Babe", BSN, RN · May 24, 2003

I was never taught to use a filter needle when drawing up meds from ampules. (They weren't invented yet as far as I know) But in the 20 some years I have never seen that or been taught that. It would make sense, I have often wondered about the posibility of micro shards in the solution I was drawing up. I have never seen a filter needle, I have used filters for certain meds like manitol, Reopro and TPA but they were packaged separately. Maybe the people you were watching are "old school" like me.

AHarri66, BSN, RN · May 27, 2003

I was also taught to use filter needles. Our facility has begun using a neat product...filter straws. They're great, and no sharps!

:)

Audreyfay · May 27, 2003

A filter needle should always be used with a glass ampule when drawing up the solution, change needles, then administer the medication. I bet your facility has a policy regarding this? Would be an interesting point to bring up to your CNS or Nurse Manager.

Wendy Psych RN · Jun 1, 2003

I am a fairly new RN (about a year and a half), and I was always taught to use a filter needle in school. However, when I started practicing, I found very few nurses who even new what a filter needle was. When I inquired about them, they thought I was actually making up the word "filter needle". Some of the older nurses would ask "what is the point of a filter needle if all IV tubing has a filter on it?" Besides, when pushing IV meds you should always push below the filter. Some people just don't understand. I think that it should be policy everywhere to use a filter needle with glass ampules. Depending on the bore of the needle, a large shard of glass could accidently be injected.

nowplayingEDRN · Jun 1, 2003

I was never taught to use filter needles either and never laid eyes on one till I came to work of Unca Sam. However, it is safer and is the prefered method for drawing medication from a glass ampule....Use the filterneedle/straw and change to a regular needle or blunt tip (if you are using a completely neddleless system that does not support needles). The reason being is that there is no garantee that you will not pick up tiny shards of glass when you draw up the medication. And I know that there have been times that the neck of the ampule has shattered when opening, leaving those tiny shards on the counter. Makes you wonder what got in the medication.

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2003

I wasn't taught to use a filter needle (graduated nursing school in 98) and have never seen a filter needle in the three hospitals that I have worked at.

What do filter needles look like? Are they packaged different? Maybe I have been using them all along and just not know it?

rola · Jun 1, 2003

hi every one ,Iam a new member and I have been practising nursing since 96 but I never heard of filter needle or taught to use it and I don't know how it looks lik .Anyway thanks forlet me know this and congratulation

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2003

I'm an Aussie and I have never even HEARD of filter needles before reading about them on this board. I did come across some research some time ago stating that every time we open a glass ampoule we contaminate the solution with fine glass slivers but as far as I am aware they have never proven that these have a deleterious effect. Could easily be wrong.