Needing a Tubex!

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

Everything is pretty much diluted anyhow with ns flushes. At least that's the policy at our hospital.

I agree. About the only thing I give IM is tetorifice and it is in it's own syringe, and sub Q might be heparin, but then it is with a TB syringe, so I never need a tubex. I dilute almost everything I give in at least 10 cc and use the NS flush syringes for that. You can ruin a lot of veins, give too much med and not have control over the outcome if undiluted. I have seen many nurses come in a push (and I mean that literally) 10 mg Morphine before allowing time to see how the patient responded.

When I am precepting, I always ask my student to dilute, give slowly enough to watch response, and be careful. If you don't have enough time to give it slowly, you sure don't have time to bag a patient until he breaths again.

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Apr 2, 2008

Ours are disposable and we have huge bags of them kept in the med cabinet.

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

Haven't seen one, used one, or needed one in years, only thing we see is lovenox that comes w/ it's own injector, everything else like dilaudud, morphine, we just pop off the needle and draw it up thru the rubber stopper on the end........

bollweevil · Apr 2, 2008

I have spent half my life hunting those darned things down, LOL.

I have one at home, 1 in my locker at work in both sizes they come in, and NO ONE gets to borrow them. They are too hard to come by. At least, until now, when you have named the maker! Hip, hip, hooray!

bollweevil · Apr 2, 2008

What is a tubex??? I never heard of it before.

It is a plastic or metal holder for a syringe to fit in. Google for a picture or check out that website given above.

miko014 · Apr 2, 2008

Haven't seen one, used one, or needed one in years, only thing we see is lovenox that comes w/ it's own injector, everything else like dilaudud, morphine, we just pop off the needle and draw it up thru the rubber stopper on the end........

But why go through all that when you can just screw it into the carpuject and squirt it out? I always go into the med room and see nurses squinting at that little vial and shaking it, trying to get every last drop out of it. It's so much easier to put it into the capuject, toss the needle on, and squirt the needed amt into NS. At least for me, it's a lot faster. Also, I don't dilute if it's going through a running IV, but if it's a SW, I sure do!!! :twocents:

FWIW, we have very few meds that come in them, but morphine and dilaudid do, and we use a lot of that. I had a pt on tigan while back (that's an old one!) and that did, and I think our valium is in them as well.

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

I guess I've just adapted to them first being scarce and then gone. It

was more of a PIA to track one down, we only ever had 3 or 4 for the floor, so what's the point? Im not going to order them for my personal supply, and basically they don't exist anymore in the hospital for years.Anywho, we give ms and dilaudid all the time, I do find it easier to draw out of the end rather than squirt into NS, its faster.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

But why go through all that when you can just screw it into the carpuject and squirt it out? I always go into the med room and see nurses squinting at that little vial and shaking it, trying to get every last drop out of it. It's so much easier to put it into the capuject, toss the needle on, and squirt the needed amt into NS. At least for me, it's a lot faster. Also, I don't dilute if it's going through a running IV, but if it's a SW, I sure do!!!
FWIW, we have very few meds that come in them, but morphine and dilaudid do, and we use a lot of that. I had a pt on tigan while back (that's an old one!) and that did, and I think our valium is in them as well.

I have a really dumb question. I always thought a tubex was the same as a carpujet, sort of like a Christmas tree is the same as a nipple (you know, the oxygen thingies!) In PACU they were called Tubexes, Surgical Carpujets, but it's the same product, same hospital...can someone help my dumb brain?

drmorton2b · Apr 2, 2008

I have a ton of old metal tubexs. That will most likely never be used due to the fact we don't use the vials for tubexs.

Sunflowerinsc, ADN, RN · Apr 3, 2008

Haven't seen one, used one, or needed one in years, only thing we see is lovenox that comes w/ it's own injector, everything else like dilaudud, morphine, we just pop off the needle and draw it up thru the rubber stopper on the end........

We have the plastic ones on our supply cart and altho most nurses don't like using them, we are encouraged to do so. That was one of the safety goals, not to use a syringe without the medication's name on it at our last inspection. Also was a "no-no" to pull meds thru the rubber stopper and transfer to another syringe, infection control. I had a medal tubex for years, lost it awhile back so carry a plastic one since that's all we have now.

RN Randy · Apr 3, 2008

Actually the item posted earlier is a carpuject holder, and the one I keep handy is a tubex injector, normally in light blue, shown here:

http://www.rxlist.com/images/rxlist/bicillinla4.gif

Saves using another syringe/needle, etc...

I'd LOVE to find a few more for myself.

Fits the pocket much better than a carpuject.

rb

diveRN · Apr 3, 2008

New Tubex.

I use mine all the time. One cc of morphine or dilaudid is compatible with all primary crystalloids and saves money when added without using a syringe and needle(less) access. Also reduces the chance of a needle stick if needless access devices aren't available. The only other drug in our forumulary that comes in a tube is Demerol and the only ones who use that with any regularity are GI docs in procedure. Gold standard in units and floors is morphine.

Our hospital gives of these to all new hire RNs and inservices them 15 minutes on their appropriate use. Not everyone likes them.