Injection Procedures

Published

First of all I am a pre-nursing student, not in nursing school yet. This is more of a personal experience concern/question but feel that I will get the best answer here. So here's what happened....

In Dec. I took my daughter in for her 1 year shots at her ped office. When the nurse came in she had 2 bandaids stuck on her scrub top. Then after giving my daughter her shots the nurse jerked them off of her scrub top and stuck them on my daughter's legs. This kinda threw up a red flag. Probably because it was flu season and I was taking Micro in school. I felt like her scrubs are probably dirty and the bandaides have sticky on the back of them. I totally understand that it is hard to get the bandaides open really quick after sticking a baby but is there a better way?

When I mentioned it to the doctor, she totally blew me off and said "Your skin is your first and best line of defense!" She acted like I was stupid and I just let it go.

So my question is: Is this a common practice or is this taught in nursing school? Do you think that I overeacted or undereacted? And are you supposed to wear gloves when giving injections or wash your hands before? (she did not have on gloves or wash her hands when she came in)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So my question is: Is this a common practice or is this taught in nursing school?
None of the things you've mentioned are taught in nursing school, although the "nurse" who gave the shots may or may not be a "nurse" after all.

How do you know that the person who administered the injections to your child was a licensed or registered nurse? Do you know with certainty? Was a nametag being worn conspicuously? I'm asking this only because the individual who gave the shots might very well be a medical assistant (MA) who never attended nursing school in the first place. Many doctors' offices and clinics have stopped utilizing nurses many moons ago.

Moreover, in the real world of nursing we cannot do every procedure the exact same way it was taught to us in nursing school. If we attempt to do all nursing tasks as they are described in textbooks, we'd run out of time and resources.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
None of the things you've mentioned are taught in nursing school, although the "nurse" who gave the shots may or may not be a "nurse" after all.

However, how do you know that the person who administered the injections to your child was a licensed or registered nurse? Do you know with certainty? I'm asking this only because the individual who gave the shots might very well be a medical assistant (MA) who never attended nursing school in the first place. Many doctors' offices and clinics have stopped utilizing nurses many moons ago.

Moreover, in the real world of nursing we cannot do every procedure the exact same way it was taught to us in nursing school. If we attempt to do all nursing tasks as they are described in textbooks, we'd run out of time and resources.

I know she was a LPN. I totally understand that what is learned in nursing school sometimes evolves to fit into the real world/everyday work. I was mostly wondering, as a RN who has been to nursing school, do you find this unsanitary?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric.

I have seen people do that, and I've also seen people stick bandaids and tape everywhere from bedrails to bedside tables, and while it might save time, to me it's just gross. I personally do find it unsanitary, and when I give my patients their injections at our mental health clinic I just pull the bandaid open a little bit but leave it in its package but within easy reach so once the injection is finished I just grab it, whip it open, and slap that baby on!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OK, in the hospital setting we wear gloves to give an injection. When I worked in the health units during flu season, no gloves. Just hand sanitizer in between patients.

Just because you didn't see her wash her hands doesn't mean she didn't do it. I use sanitizer on my hands before I enter patients rooms and when I leave them, utilizing the containers on the walls outside the rooms.

I've never used a bandaid after giving a shot but if I did, I'd probably unwrap them just before application.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I know she was a LPN. I totally understand that what is learned in nursing school sometimes evolves to fit into the real world/everyday work. I was mostly wondering, as a RN who has been to nursing school, do you find this unsanitary?

This is a very strange sentence. The Commuter is a LPN who is attending an RN programme. Why would you want an RN to comment on an LPN's practice? Every nurse, regardless of her type of practice permit has the same instruction in what and what is not sanitary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Day program consultant DD/MR.

When I was giving flu shot this pass season. I would open the band aid up after I prepared the injection and putit one side on the back of my gloved non dominant hand so it was easily assesable after administration of the vaccine. I to have seen tape on all sort of unsanitary surfaces and would not want them on me or may family after a procedure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This is a very strange sentence. The Commuter is a LPN who is attending an RN programme. Why would you want an RN to comment on an LPN's practice? Every nurse, regardless of her type of practice permit has the same instruction in what and what is not sanitary.

Why would I want a RN to comment on a LPN's practice? B/c as you say in your response "Every nurse, regardless of her type of practice permit has the same instruction in what and what is not sanitary." I just wanted the opinion of someone who was more educated that me!

In my response to The Commuter, I was responding to the question about was I sure the "nurse" was a nurse and not a medical assistant. I stated that she was an LPN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Was the band-aid completely open or just the tip of it? I guess it isn't very sanitary practice, but when trying to give two injections to a wiggling and probably screaming one year old, it is hard to stop between the injections to unwrap a band-aid, unless the unwrapping has already been started.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Was the band-aid completely open or just the tip of it? I guess it isn't very sanitary practice but when trying to give two injections to a wiggling and probably screaming one year old, it is hard to stop between the injections to unwrap a band-aid, unless the unwrapping has already been started.[/quote']

No it was completely opened and stuck on her top when she came in the room. I just thought that she just poked a hole in my baby's leg then put a dirty bandaide on it. Maybe I am just a little protective with my baby.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
No it was completely opened and stuck on her top when she came in the room. I just thought that she just poked a hole in my baby's leg then put a dirty bandaide on it. Maybe I am just a little protective with my baby.

Of course your protective of your baby, nothing wrong with that.:nuke: And I agree, a completely opened band-aid especially on a scrub top is not a good practice. The chance of an infection is generally minimal, but still it is unclean. Even though the Dr. seemed to blow you off, she may have not wanted to admit her nurse or MA did wrong to a patient's mother, but then took it up with the her/him later.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion