I Need A Tubex!!!

Published

When I first started nursing (3years ago) the pharmacy at my hospital stocked Tubex injectors. Not the old metal kind, but a new light blue plastic one with a twist grip on it... for use with needleless tubex med syringes. If you use one, you know what I'm talking about. My pharmacy has stopped stocking them and gone to the Carpuject injectors, which I HATE! I stocked up on a few of them at first but I'm down to only one which I guard with my life. I'm so afraid its going to break or get lost and then what??? Carpuject... ugghh. Anyone know where I can get some of these doodads?? I can't find anywhere online that sells them through my search engine and I've checked my local scrub shops and medical supply places with no luck.....

I love my little Tubex!

Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
you can also use the plunger from a insulin syringe..... Just pull it out of the insulin syringe, pop the carpujet and then you can push out the air and infuse into an IV line.... :)

Good idea. Same sort of concept. But I still would prefer to find one! I like my little "T" finger grips. Makes it easier to push! Thanks tho!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
I never use them When you need them in an emergency, they can be hard to find. Much easier to draw the drug out of the tubex with a syringe and then give it. Syringes are always available and even the needleless systems with the blue arrow can go thru the rubber stopper on those.

You still need to obtain the injector before you can give the medicine so no time is really saved with these.

Almost everyone else that I work with does not use the holders at all either.

Well I am a firm believer in keeping the things I need in a hurry on me at all times!! Thats what those nifty pockets that they put on the front of your scrubs are for !! So it is easily accessible to me, and much more compact than carrying around a bunch of syringes and blunt fill needles. I dont know what system you use, but on our system, the needle is completely hidden unless you pull the device apart... which takes a concious effort to do. And I find it much easier to twist the syringe into the injector and push the med rather than open up a syringe, open a fill needle, twist them together, draw out the med, and then push it. It actually eliminates quite a few steps if you think about it. But like I say... to each his own. I'm perfectly capable of drawing into a typical syringe... just prefer my tubex!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
if i wouldnt get in trouble for stealing hosp prop i would send you one!!! i love mine and guard it with my life also!! lol.. i hate carpuject- we had those @ a clinic i worked at as an MA, Horrid!

i would ask your manager or google it as others said- unless it is hospital policy that you cannot use them, i dont see why she couldnt order you a couple with a good reason on your part!

GL!

-H-RN

Ah, a fellow Tubex lover! Once you twist and pop, you just can't stop!! No policy on how to deliver meds (as far as the Tubex vs Carpuject). The pharmacy just got cheap on us. The almightly dollar, you know. I'm gonna ask my manager... she's pretty good about getting you the stuff you want or need to work! Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
Man I so know what you mean! I had 4 of the Tubex's and when some fools stole my truck...they got all of em!

I'd be huntin' that mother DOWN! You can have my truck... but lay off my TUBEX!!! haha! Mine just got lost... you know... the little elf that runs around and steals all your crap as soon as you lay it down... It was either him, or the gnome that lives in my dryer (he likes my TED hose the best!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
I quite bothering to use them when they changed at my hospital too. I have no use for the carpuject system, the old tubex were much better. Ill just use a traditional syringe thank you.

If the pharmacy cant get them for you though, you might see if your nurse manager will go on a locker raid. Im sure we have several lockers full of them in our coat room.

I'm sure that there are people who have tons of them... But we just got new lockers... otherwise, I could probably have hit the jackpot there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.

Thanks!! Gotta have my little blue plastic one tho!! Call me OCD, picky, or whatever... haha!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
we have some stashed at work, no one uses.Ill ask my don if I can have them for you,(if they are still there. sue

Ohhhhhhh!!! Would you??? I'd pay you to ship them! They are the light blue ones?? Tubex. Not Carpuject. Twist grip that only grips the bottom of the cartridge?? I would be your friend forever!!:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Ha! Ha! I have two of the old metal ones and one of the blue plastic ones as well as two Carpuject holders. Always carried them in my pocket. You can get them from the company salespeople. Does your hospital have a day when the drug reps are around and the nurses are allowed to interact with them? I know they are tightening up on what they are allowing the reps to give away these days. I heard that pens are the latest thing on the list of disallowed freebies. Ask one of the pharmacists. I would call the company and leave a message for the drug rep for your area myself and ask for a couple of these for the nurses on your unit. See how far that gets you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Not all prefilled syringes are interchangeable between carpujects and tubexs. Best bet is to use a regular needle/syringe if you refuse to use the carpuject, to avoid problems with the prefilled syringes. Would be a pain in the butt to have to explain why you keep wasting meds if the syringe breaks or contamination occurs - especially if it is a controlled substance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Unless times have changed (I haven't been working in acute hospitals for a few years), the needle of Carpuject cartridges can be popped off and what is left is a vial with a rubber stopper which you can then easily inject a needle attached to a syringe through and aspirate the contents out. Can't do that with Tubex cartridges.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Surgical.
Not all prefilled syringes are interchangeable between carpujects and tubexs. Best bet is to use a regular needle/syringe if you refuse to use the carpuject, to avoid problems with the prefilled syringes. Would be a pain in the butt to have to explain why you keep wasting meds if the syringe breaks or contamination occurs - especially if it is a controlled substance.

All of the prefilled syringes in my facility are compatible with both the carpuject and the tubex injectors. I understand my alternatives, as far as a regular needle/syringe and a carpuject. My whole goal is to find more of the injector that I prefer, the Tubex!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

jlmb214; I return to work tues 8 / 12 will see about them,let u know! sue

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion