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
Jan 17, '07
Plus, you can never find one when you need it.
I will stick to my 18G needles :spin:
Jan 17, '07
Only problem I ever had was finding one. Are you talking about the full length blue and white ones, or the short blue ones that only fit on one end?
Jan 17, '07
I can't ever get them to work. I did rotation on ortho in my internship and all the nurses carried them in their pockets because they give so many pain meds and reduces the time it takes to do so. Now that I'm on my chosen unit, I haven't seen one.
Jan 17, '07
Havn't seen one in years. Used to love them. Wounder what's changed. I'd refuse to use them if they don't work.
Jan 17, '07
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).
Jan 17, '07
I do not like them either. I always have a hard time getting it to lock into place and stay in the catheter of a SL. Now mind you I am a new nurse so perhaps it is just I am not used to it or something. The nurses I work with love them and are always trying to get me to use them.
Jan 17, '07
I LOVE them! I have my own. Our CN gave me one and I keep it in my pocket so it doesnt "run off". I have no trouble with it at all. It is faster than drawing up the meds with a syringe.
Jan 17, '07
I think if theyd clean out the lockers inthe locker room theyd probly find millions of them. They get thrown in lockers and never come out to see light of day again. I dont like them,, id rather transfer it to a syringe and discard the needle. They dont hold tight, sometimes difficult to get screwed into the vial and may or may not screw on to the hub of the lock properly. I dont use them.
Jan 17, '07
I still prefer to transfer to a syringe too. I feel that I have more control over the rate of administration when not using the carpuject. We give a lot of pain meds, but I really don't feel that I'm slowed down.
Jan 17, '07
I take a small insulin syringe and pop the needle off. The diameter of the insulin syringe fits perfectly inside the cartridge of med to push the med. This way I dont have to use the carpuject apparatus to push the med. I keep the insulin syringe in my pocket and reuse it. It is quicker and easier than having to load the apparatus.
Jan 17, '07
Quote from mrsalby
I take a small insulin syringe and pop the needle off. The diameter of the insulin syringe fits perfectly inside the cartridge of med to push the med. This way I dont have to use the carpuject apparatus to push the med. I keep the insulin syringe in my pocket and reuse it. It is quicker and easier than having to load the apparatus.
Interesting, I've never removed a needle from an insulin syringe. I'll have to try that. You should write a helpful hints book.
Jan 17, '07
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.
Jan 17, '07Joined: Nov '04; Posts: 1,601; Likes: 715Plus, you can never find one when you need it.
Jan 17, '07Joined: May '02; Posts: 5,148; Likes: 9,476Only problem I ever had was finding one. Are you talking about the full length blue and white ones, or the short blue ones that only fit on one end?
Jan 17, '07Occupation: RN Specialty: Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown ; Joined: Oct '05; Posts: 525; Likes: 54I can't ever get them to work. I did rotation on ortho in my internship and all the nurses carried them in their pockets because they give so many pain meds and reduces the time it takes to do so. Now that I'm on my chosen unit, I haven't seen one.
Jan 17, '07Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 230; Likes: 14Havn't seen one in years. Used to love them. Wounder what's changed. I'd refuse to use them if they don't work.
Jan 17, '07Occupation: RN Specialty: Med/Surg ; Joined: May '05; Posts: 690; Likes: 111I do not like them either. I always have a hard time getting it to lock into place and stay in the catheter of a SL. Now mind you I am a new nurse so perhaps it is just I am not used to it or something. The nurses I work with love them and are always trying to get me to use them.
