carpuject injectors

[errn911]

Have any nurses out there had trouble with the carpuject apparatus? I find them very hard to control, ie, hard to attach to clave, leaks or inadvertant squirting out prior to being completely attached to the clave, etc...

I have been a nurse for 23 years and am now required by my manager to use them. Still can't get the hang of it and find some nurses refuse to use them.

A response would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[MomNRN, BSN, RN]

I love them too. I use both types. I keep 2 carpuject in my pocket at all times. Alot of our meds are pre-filled in the syringes so you are able to quickly pop them in the device.

I am not sure if I am referring to it correctly or not, but the one I call a "tubex" is the device that just has the handle. You screw your med right onto the end. There is no sleeve to hold it in. Our pre-filled penicillin meds only fit the tubex. I keep that device in my locker. Those are harder to find than the carpuject.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

There are two kinds, one is bulkier and you twist it into place attach it on the bottom. It automatically engages the top thing, so the medication comes out. The other kind is simplier and you have to push the top of the medication thing down, to make the med come out. Hard to explain.

I like them. Keep one in your locker. I have one collegue who hoards them, she has like 8 of them in her locker "just in case", no wonder they're hard to find! She said that if I ever need one to let her know, lol (the locker room is pretty far from the floor).

We use both . . . . the one you called "simplier" is the light baby blue one, right? We call them "Smurfs".

The other has clear plastic and blue/gray . . .

I don't mind either one - although I prefer the clear plastic/blue/gray one . . . . . I've never used anything else.

steph

[caliotter3]

The one and only time I had to use one, I could not get it to work, so I ended up drawing up the med with another syringe. Have never come across the need for one since. This thread makes me feel so much better. That equipment "failure" has been a self esteem issue for me ever since it happened, yrs ago! Now that I know that I'm not the only one with this problem, I can breathe easier!

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

We use them tons! I will only use the type that fits around the syringe part...not the blue ones that only clamp to the bottom..those are for crud!

What I do is push the top part of my medication syringe to open that medication syringe up...most people do that as they twist the bottom part to snap it into place..but I feel it fits better if you do this part first! Put in the syringe...screw the plunger part but do not press it. Clamp the twist area on bottom. Then hold perfectly upright with the cap off...expell the air carefully as not to loose the med (I find it is handy to tap the syringe twice when upright as not to get a little of that fluid in the top part to regurge up and splash ya in the face..LOL!). Put cap back on...travel to room.

When you put it into the IV port...make sure you have a good handle on the hub of the iv port...you are going to have to twist and push...so you really do need a handle on it or your pt is going to freak, hurt, or wonder what the heck you are doing! LOL! If tape is in the way..do your best or remove the tape. Remember this when starting IV's too...leave that hub accessable for this for others and yourself! If you have a puller pt...just wrap it with kerlex or something soft so you can access it easily when needed.

I hold the hub and entire injector when injecting with one hand, plung with the other so I don't twist, turn, loose connection, or cause IV to inflitrate or worse...come out! Stablization is the name of the game!

I am so use to them now...they don't bother me any. And for our facility they need to be washed after being taken from a pts room...so we keep one available in the room at all times so we don't have probelms finding one. We can no longer carry one...so I find it is good to find a place to keep them in each room safe and out of the way...I have even put them into plastic baggies for cleanliness :) while in the room so they stay clean.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I don't use the Carpuject. I draw the med up into a syringe ... and I don't think it's any slower than futzing with the Carpuject.

[AliRae]

I have no idea what a carpuject is, but I don't think they're so much used in the peds world, from the sound of them. We don't generally give "all" of anything. In fact, if I'm not wasting more than I'm using, I get a little concerned!

[SaderNurse05, BSN, RN]

I love my Carpujects, and I have made several believers from fellow nurses. The trick with mine is to screw on the cartridge, then lcok the syringe. Once you get it down it is very quick. I like to be able to carry saline flush in my pocket with alcohol pads and my carpuject and know I can flush an IV on the spot with no needles.