Filter needle when drawing from vials or not?

Nurses Safety

Published

  1. Filter needles used

    • 43
      Absolutely always
    • 1
      When I have time
    • 10
      Sometimes, on occasion
    • 15
      Never do, they are not required

69 members have participated

I have been concerned about this for some time. Our unit does not use them and I was taught to do so, but the coworkers think I'm nutty.

Specializes in Nursing Education.

For hospitals that do not use filter needs for ampule draws, they need to understand what evidenced based practice is and do a little research.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.

We have them and are required to use them... always. Wouldn't have it any other way.

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Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

I am surprised to hear the low numbers of not having filter needles available.

I always use for any ampule, & also for the drugs like solu-medrol. Just doing what I was taught. My hospital doesn't have a specific policy for using them, but they are ALWAYS available.

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Specializes in Neuro Critical Care.

Always use filter needles for ampules, never thought of using them for solu-medrol draws. A very good idea!

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Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.

Anytime you are drawing up anything from a glass vial, you should be using a filter needle. So to answer your question, yes, I ALWAYS do. You never know what little sliver of glass you may not be seeing....why risk your patient's well-being???

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Anytime you are drawing up anything from a glass vial, you should be using a filter needle. So to answer your question, yes, I ALWAYS do. You never know what little sliver of glass you may not be seeing....why risk your patient's well-being???

I agree with you which is why I started this poll.

I am not sure who to take this up with. If I ask our manager to keep this confidential(my co-workers REALLY will NOT discuss using filters at all) is she required to?

BTW, I had a student the other week and she asked me where the filter was as she was preparing to give an IM from an ampule med, and I told her we don't use them. Whe said she was taught to. I said I was taught to as well and if she was not comfortable giving the med in this way then I was 100% behind her. She didn't.

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I am a student and we were taught to use them, our teachers told us that you as a nurse could lose you lisence if a patient was hurt becasue of the microscopic glass particals. We asked what if there are not filtered needles she said then refuse to give the medication because you do not have the proper equipment. Now I ask you how is that going to work? you would then get fired or wrote up. I think this is another of those catch 22's in nursing how about all of you ?

Rhonda

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You got it right Rhoresmith. It is a Catch-22 as are many things we do in nursing. My co-workers love to say "This is the REAL world, not school". You fight that one.

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We have a professional practice committee at my hospital. If there were no filter needles we would ask that the policy and procedure be followed. There should BE a policy on this.

If there is not write go through the chain of command. Write or e-mail your manager, and on up. If you need to go beyond unit management copy it to the pharmacy and medical directors.

Scientific studies always help. For physicians they should be from a medical journal.

In the meantime fill out an incident report each time you are forced to give a dose without a filter needle. Keep copies of all letters and/or e-mails you sent (NOT incident reports of course).

The QA or hospital attorney may take it seriously.

GOOD FOR YOU for advocating for quality patient care!

But you MAY be labeled a troublemaker as I have been. Thankfully we have a supportive nurse manager for our unit.

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Specializes in Neurology, Neurosurgerical & Trauma ICU.
I agree with you which is why I started this poll.

I am not sure who to take this up with. If I ask our manager to keep this confidential(my co-workers REALLY will NOT discuss using filters at all) is she required to?

BTW, I had a student the other week and she asked me where the filter was as she was preparing to give an IM from an ampule med, and I told her we don't use them. Whe said she was taught to. I said I was taught to as well and if she was not comfortable giving the med in this way then I was 100% behind her. She didn't.

Hmmm...I don't know that your manager would be required to keep something like that confidential, but then again, what would it hurt even if she didn't? After all...you're attempting to be your patient's advocate and protect them from potentially harmful practices!

So, why won't your co-workers discuss using filters? Is it that they don't talk about it becuase they don't want to bring it up and eventually end up having to use them? If so, are they that lazy that they wouldn't take the extra step to protect their patients? I can't see any other argument against using them other than it takes an extra few seconds!

Also...you should have filter needles just for the fact that some drugs MUST be pulled up through a filter before giving them. Personally, we use Dilantin a lot (which must be filtered at least once...so I just filter it when pulling it up from the glass vial) and mannitol must be pulled up through a filter needle! Now there's something that'll make your hands sore...pulling up 50 grams of Mannitol!!! :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

we use them where I work.

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We use filter needles as well. I agree with whoever posted about the vial being redesigned, not the needle.

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