Ok, once again what I have been taught is being challenged. I have always been taught to use a filterneedle/straw when drawing anything from an ampule. In the ER where I am now working I was noticing that no one was doing it...we have the little red/green "twinsets" that everyone seemed to be using. I asked a couple of people and got looked at like I had four heads.
My unit manager, when asked about it, told me that yes, she had heard that but she thought the twinsets had filter capability (I dont see how...have read the labeling thouroughly) and would follow up on it. (of course she has not and will not). I spoke to another nurse on the unit who has close to 30 years experience (and never hesitates to point that out) and he says that the risk is negligible of getting glass shards from an ampule...he never uses a filter.
I am uncomfortable with all of this and am continuing to use from a box that I found. I am thinking of going to administration with this...but before I make an idiot out of myself am I totally missing something here -am I overreacting? I guess I am unsure because I have far, far less experience than do these other folks and am constantly reminded of that fact by them.
Nonetheless, if it is a potential patient safety issue then I need to do something - my conscience will not allow otherwise.
it ticks me off when i actually see someone draw something off with a filter needle (good thing) but they don't take it off and then dilute it (injecting into the flush with the filter needle) using the filter needle. So they are just blowing all those particles right back out! ugh! critical thinking people!!!
it ticks me off when i actually see someone draw something off with a filter needle (good thing) but they don't take it off and then dilute it (injecting into the flush with the filter needle) using the filter needle. So they are just blowing all those particles right back out! ugh! critical thinking people!!!
so far the responses seem to be weighed towards using filter needles. Thanks to all who replied! Now I need to figure out who to approach with this...my manager is obviously not going to do anything about it b/c she does not perceive it as a problem.
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
so far the responses seem to be weighed towards using filter needles. Thanks to all who replied! Now I need to figure out who to approach with this...my manager is obviously not going to do anything about it b/c she does not perceive it as a problem.
Do a quick google for filter needles and ampules, I came up with lots of articles clearly in favor of using filter needles. Print some of them up and give them to your manager. Or perhaps the DON of your institution if you get nowhere with your manager. It would be foolish for them to ignore it.
good ideas, barefootlady & pricklypear. I am going to do some research and present my manager with copies of what I find...if no response then I will go elsewhere with my findings. thanks.
It just bugs me that with all the little picky things we get hounded about that such a blatant safety issue could go unheeded.
jeepgirl, LPN, NP
851 Posts
it ticks me off when i actually see someone draw something off with a filter needle (good thing) but they don't take it off and then dilute it (injecting into the flush with the filter needle) using the filter needle. So they are just blowing all those particles right back out! ugh! critical thinking people!!!