Ampules still being used, Ouch! - page 4

1. 
   Sep 28, '06

   Quote from crb613

   We still have them phenergan comes to mind....after spending some time searching for a needle w/filter......I was told we don't use those :uhoh21: ......The filter is on the iv.

   I don't know about your unit, but ours does't always use filters for every IV. YIKES! Only for the central's, PICC's and ports.
2. 
   Sep 28, '06

   Quote from twinmommy+1

   The two on my unit are phenergan and digoxin, but I know there was another one that is on the tip of my tongue that was a big sucker (can't remember it for the life of me). I cut my thumb on a phenergan amp a few weeks ago also.

   I've recently used Demadex 10 cc (Yep, HUGE) that comes in ampules. I flicked the top to get liq down, and the top popped off and flew! Thing is, the filter needle isn't quite long enough to reach to the bottom of that monstrosity...Yikes!
3. 
   Sep 28, '06

   we still use amps heaps, for all our S8 drugs, heparin, haloperidol, tramadol, clingamycin... and i've never had a problem at all with them.
   i've noticed that people who are wary of them get cut much more. if you just grab and snap, they tend to work out fine.
   even with ones that don't snap cleanly, you can still handle them safely without cutting yourself - it's not like you're aiming to touch the broken edge or anything
4. 
   Sep 28, '06

   I always use a filter straw/needle to draw up from an amp.
5. 
   Sep 28, '06

   Quote from twinmommy+1

   I don't know about your unit, but ours does't always use filters for every IV. YIKES! Only for the central's, PICC's and ports.

   My thoughts exactly...what if there is no filter on the iv!
6. 
   Sep 28, '06

   Quote from twinmommy+1

   I don't know about your unit, but ours does't always use filters for every IV. YIKES! Only for the central's, PICC's and ports.

   I remember one night not being able to find a filter needle for love nor money. My charge nurse said oh well, don't worry about it. Years ago we didn't have filter needles and everything came in amps. :uhoh21:
7. 
   Sep 28, '06

   Marie, do you use ampule openers in the OR? Can they be sterilized? I know how you love eyes, LOL, but our Miochol recently changed from coming in a push to mix vial like solu-medrol to an ampule of dilutant and vial of med that needs to be mixed on the field just before giving. What a PITA for the scrub!
   
   Otherwise, I open all my amps inside an alcohol swab wrapper since I don't trust the gauze.
8. 
   Sep 28, '06

   Really the only ampules dealt with in our OR are for the epidural trays and and a few of the meds that the MDAs use. Everything else is in a vial, so scrubs never have to use them.
9. 
   Sep 30, '06

   we use dilaudid that is the big one at my hospital
10. 
    Sep 30, '06

    Where I work there are still some meds that we used that come in amps. Low concentration epi drip, fentanyl, and there is one more that I can't remember right now. I use an alcohol pad to break it open.
11. 
    Sep 30, '06

    Last time I cut my thumb it was breaking open a 5 ml IV Lopressor ampule. Middle of the night, new admit from ER with an acute MI, Cardiologist at the bedside wanting Lopressor given about 5 minutes before he ordered it. I break open the ampule with the alcohol wipe away from me and slice open my thumb and get blood into the only dose on the floor. I'm not sure who was more upset. Me in pain and bleeding all over the myself and the paperwork, the doc at the delay in getting the pt the necessary med or the pt watching his doc yell and his nurse bleed. The unit was stocked with the ampule openers after that.
12. 
    Sep 30, '06

    Fentanyl vials are a pet peeve of mine ... and yes, I've also cut myself on them. How fun is that: trying to conceal from the patient the fact that you are *bleeding*, needing to set down the vial but having that internal radar screaming at you about immediately disposing of a sharp, all the while having your finger sting like crazy ...
    
    Lately our fentanyl has been coming with a plastic sort of sleeve over the neck of the vial - nice protection. Realistically, it probably won't last: once this month's "special promotion" ends the Purchasing department will probably be again ordering the cheap ampules with no protection.
13. 
    Sep 30, '06

    Hi, I was going to say also - everytime fill out an incident report and tell other nurses working there todo the same and maybe something will be done when they realize this could cost them (hospital ) money -they have to address the incident reports and mention this casually when the state comes around - it could help

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