Help me understand an Ampule

[Femine91]

As the title suggests, I have not yet had to administer an ampule. Im an early grad and so still have key questions on concepts so please bear with me. In school, we were given only one demo and one practice. I have had questions since then which my instructor brushed off (I sensed she felt I asked too many questions, but I can guarantee you that I spoke for my peers who were too afraid to ask "dumb questions")

Well here it is:

Why is an ampule contained in an "ampule"? Why not just a regular vial? Why go through the whole process of breaking tip, using filter needle, inverting, with the very possibility of spilling the whole medication and wasting it. Why cant a regular vial just do?

What if...I draw from an ampule without inverting it? What difference does it make? I have to administer a medication to my mom tomorrow involving an ampule, I confidently told her that I could do it, but deep down this nagging question and fear comes along...what if i screw it up and spill her medication? Shell never forgive me!

Fellow nurses, thanks in advance!

[nursel56]

Back in the Dark Ages (when I was a new nurse) a metric butt ton of meds came in ampules. Hated them then, hate them now.

That said- they ARE tamperproof.

and. . .(cue funereal dun-dun-dun sound effect) no filter needles back then! The big ones you had to file on one side to break that sucker. I liked them.

I did not invert. I found drawing most of the med upright and then tipping the ampule to get that last bit was most effective. Never had any injury with them, either.

Also a big fan of old-fashioned metal Tubex contraptions.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Ampules exist to elicit swear words and blood from nurses. I hate those damn things.

[Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

In my almost 39 years as an RN, I've never inverted an ampule to draw up the medication. We also didn't have filter needles when I 1st entered Nursing in the late 70's. We switched needles, usually drawing up with a larger bore than you'd want to inject someone with. I also learned the hard way, to use a sterile gauze pad around the vial tip as you break it. You don't want to lacerate your finger, as well as contaminate the open vial!

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

In my almost 39 years as an RN, I've never inverted an ampule to draw up the medication.

Me too - which was why I was so surprised to read people inverted ampules to draw up meds. Honestly, that isn't the way I was taught in nursing school and I'd never seen anyone do it.

I think I've seen threads here before about how people do things differently in different parts of the country (world) regarding nursing. It is interesting how diverse we are regarding this kind of stuff.

[Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

Been there, done that!

[Graduatenurse14]

I use an unopened alcohol swab and don't invert- I didn't even know you could so I'm going to try the next time of give Fentanyl.

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

I was taught to invert the ampule after flicking any liquid down out of the tip & snapping the top away from myself (graduated 3 years ago) but didn't exactly believe it would work! Others are right- surface tension will keep the med in the amp IF you don't touch the edge of the needle to the edge of the glass. Then capillary action will make the liquid run down the outside of the needle & be useless. I always use a filter needle and then a new (regular) needle to inject into a mini-bag, but usually I don't invert...I just don't use them enough to have a really smooth process! (Occasionally we get amps of metoprolol, but recently it's been vials; I think the last med I drew from an amp was vitamin K and it was the only ampule in the Pyxis...didn't want to screw it up & wait for a new one with my GI bleeding patient!)

OP- how did it go with your Mom?

[ticurr9]

Me too. Lol