Medicine Crusher's

I have always in the past taken a paper towel and give them a quick wipe before using it. We have a really nice one where I work now. It has little plastic bags that you poor the pills into and after they are crushed it gets thrown away.

http://www.dbhealth.com.au/products/crushers.asp

If I have time I use water and really clean it. most times I just use alcohol wipe and let it dry before and afterwards.

I've noticed that the medicine crusher's are not being taking care of at all. Nurses keep crushing medicine's even though it has residue from other medications. What if there is a patient that might be allergic to one of the medicines that have been crushed? Is this common in hospitals?

Sandra

I've always used a 2nd paper cup on the meds in the bottom one to keep that from happening, and if it tears, I then just wipe off any residue. Are they crushing meds without paper cups?

We have disposable type pill crushers on our unit so each pt gets their own. I have noticed the situation you described at other hospitals and wondered the same thing.

Our facility employs the Silent Knight crushers where you drop the pills into a small plastic sac, crush, and mix. The residue typically does not escape the plastic sac during the process of crushing the pills.

Yup, we use the Slient Knight, too. I haven't had any problems with residue.

Our pills are pre-packaged, and I usually crush them while encased in that pack. It does make you wonder, though...you don't know what was crushed before you used it or how the patient will react.

We also use Silent Knight. I have used many types and this is the best system I have used.

I hated the noise as well as the residue issue.

I put two cups in, then put the pills in followed by another cup on top of that. I will wipe the crusher down if a cup tears, whether or not I see any residual. And I wet it down good with alcohol between each of my 3 meds passes. And then again at the end of my shift.

Honestly, I hate the crusher we use at work. Its loud and doesn't do a great job in crushing pills. I am seriously thinking of ordering one of the Silent Knights with my own money and using it at work..but the expense of buying the bags stops me.

Ruthiegal, exactly, with out it and they all look horrible. Residue all over!!!

Um...that is just lazy. If you get pill dust on it....Clean it!