Drawing from ampules and vials...

[DanishPastry]

I have an injection skills check-off tomorrow and I'm confused about drawing meds from ampules and vials. I will have to mix the meds in a syringe. My textbooks say to draw from the vial first, but my classmates tell me to draw from the ampule first. Please help!!! Thanks!!

[Snwbdr]

when in doubt, always go by the text....if your instructor marks you off for going by the text, you have a reference to show them where you got your information....."my classmate told me to do it this way" is NOT justification

[peytonsmom]

I agree always go by the texts!

We were taught to do the vial first (assuming multi-dose vial). If you draw up from the ampule and somehow manage to contaminate the vial w/ the med your drew up from the ampule you have to throw out the whole vial which had several doses left in it. If you draw from vial first and then contaminate the ampule w/ the med you drew up from the vial, you only have to throw out a one dose ampule. At least that was their rationale behind it when they taught us.