Giving injections question....

[AprilRNurse]

The other day when I got my flu vaccine I asked the nurse to please draw it up with a separate needle and she looked at me like I was crazy. The other 3 nurses sitting with us had never heard of it either. We were taught that if you draw up meds with a diff needle that you admin with- it keeps the needle sharper and less painful. In my 3 years as a nurse- I always do this. (except tuberculin and insulin needles- as there isn't an option)

So- thoughts? Do you change needles? Have you really never heard of this? I was told I was wasting resources.

[HamsterRN, ADN, RN]

The policy where I work is to use a "non-coring"/blunt needle to draw through a rubber stopper to reduce the chance of injecting bits of rubber into the patient, a filter needle would serve the same purpose but at a higher cost.

Many diabetics reuse their insulin needles many, many times and while they do dull at some point it's unlikely that a single puncture through a rubber stopper would dull it noticeably, there are studies where pictures are taken of the tip under an electron microscope that shows dulling after 5 or 6 sticks.

Some diabetics even prefer a slightly dulled needle because they claim site heals better resulting in less irritation at the site.

[wearingmanyhats, RN]

I have been giving flu vaccines for a major company... and we have syringes that we cannot change the needle, and 90%+ of my patients say they hardly felt it at all... we are using small needles (I would have to look next time, but I think they are 28 gauge)

[catshowlady]

I breed Burmese cats (this is relevant, stay with me...). I give my own vaccines rather than expose tiny kittens to the illnesses and god-knows-what at the vet's office. I've given a bunch of them (usually 3 per every kitten born).

I am here to tell you, drawing up the vax dulls the needle. It does NOT go through the skin the way a fresh needle does. Maybe it's just the brand I've been using, but it does not go in easily unless I change to a new needle. And quick and easy is important when the recipient has claws and teeth!

I change the needle every time, whether the "pt" is a feline or a human. At work, I have access to blunt fill needles to draw up the med, then change it out for the sharp to give the injection with. At home, I just pitch the needle I use to draw up the vax.

Oh, and all my coworkers use the blunt needles to draw up too. Except the employee health nurse. Guess those blunt fill needles are too expensive to waste on the employees (JOKING).

:paw:

[AprilRNurse]

I breed Burmese cats (this is relevant, stay with me...). I give my own vaccines rather than expose tiny kittens to the illnesses and god-knows-what at the vet's office. I've given a bunch of them (usually 3 per every kitten born).

I am here to tell you, drawing up the vax dulls the needle. It does NOT go through the skin the way a fresh needle does. Maybe it's just the brand I've been using, but it does not go in easily unless I change to a new needle. And quick and easy is important when the recipient has claws and teeth!

I change the needle every time, whether the "pt" is a feline or a human. At work, I have access to blunt fill needles to draw up the med, then change it out for the sharp to give the injection with. At home, I just pitch the needle I use to draw up the vax.

Oh, and all my coworkers use the blunt needles to draw up too. Except the employee health nurse. Guess those blunt fill needles are too expensive to waste on the employees (JOKING).

:paw:

See, I definately feel a difference in how a needle slides into the skin when it's not changed too.

[cheska_rn, ASN, RN]

I am currently in school, and we are required to change the needle. I wish I could remember the reasoning behind it, and if I have time, I will look through my notes to see if I wrote down the explanation from the instructor, because now I am curious. (How was the for a run-on sentence?!? )

[pretty70]

I always change the needle and I was not aware that others nurses do not.

[pretty70]

I am currently in school, and we are required to change the needle. I wish I could remember the reasoning behind it, and if I have time, I will look through my notes to see if I wrote down the explanation from the instructor, because now I am curious. (How was the for a run-on sentence?!? )

I was taught that the needle is contaminated with the rubber or ampule.

[sunnycalifRN]

So- thoughts? Do you change needles? Have you really never heard of this? I was told I was wasting resources.

I don't remember being taught this, excepting the filter needle for drawing from an ampule. It would be hard to do where I work because we no longer have access to separate needles, except for filter needles. You would have to take the needle off a second syringe. The only injections I give are subQ, however.

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I was taught to never stick twice with a needle. I always use one to draw and one to inject,..the exception being Tb and insulin syringes.

[symtz]

I NEVER EVER give a shot with the needle I used to draw up the med. Always draw with either a blunt tip or a filter needle and ALWAYS use a new needle for injection. I want that needle as sharp as can be!

[kids]

You have to wonder- if changing the needle is 'best practice' why insulin and TB syringes come with a fixed needle.

[Sarah010101]

You have to wonder- if changing the needle is 'best practice' why insulin and TB syringes come with a fixed needle

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This is exactly what I was thinking...

I think I will stick to the way my text boook says and the way I learned. Maybe it is just old practice that isnt really taught anymore? I tried to look for studies on it and found nothing...