heparin injections

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by Liddle Noodnik
Apr 17, '03   Views: 14,108   Comments: 19

  1. Hi, I am new here!
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    About Liddle Noodnik

    Joined: Apr '03; Posts: 11,245; Likes: 8,514
    "Exploring my options" ;); from US
    Specialty: 30 year(s) of experience in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep.

    19 Comments

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  3. by sanakruz
    Apr 17, '03
    Howdy-
    Havent given or received any heparin injections lately myself.....
  4. by debbyed
    Apr 17, '03
    Well Hi there!!!

    And the question You wish to ask???
  5. by Liddle Noodnik
    Apr 17, '03
    Ooops, I am REALLY new, I entered before I posed my question.

    I just recently started a new job in a major hospital. We'all were talking about heparin injections and NO ONE had heard of changing the needle ( for sub q injection) after withdrawing heparin from a vial.

    I'm interested to see if any of YOU do change the needle so as to prevent the heparin on the needle from "tracking" into the injection site. They all looked at me like I was from a foreign country or something!
  6. by plumrn
    Apr 17, '03
    That's the way I learned it, too. Use a 25g or 28g needle, change needles after drawing up, 90 degree angle in the abd, below the umbilicus, don't aspirate, don't massage. We were also taught to check the dose with another nurse after drawing it up. This was a few yrs ago.
  7. by RNIAM
    Apr 17, '03
    plumrn
    That is how we are being taught right now.
  8. by RNonsense
    Apr 17, '03
    Yes, it stops "blue belly" syndrome.
  9. by P_RN
    Apr 17, '03
    Same here but we use a 3 cc syringe because makes for less pressure than a tb one does.
  10. by panda_181
    Apr 17, '03
    We were only taught to change the needle when doing IMs...not Heparin. We don't have vials, we use ampules, but you can still get Heparin on the needle from those. If you're going to go to that extreme, wouldn't they want you to change the needle after drawing up Insulin?

    Amanda
  11. by ceecel.dee
    Apr 17, '03
    We don't even use SQ Heparin anymore.

    It's Lovenox, and syringes are prefilled, so no needle change!
  12. by Liddle Noodnik
    Apr 17, '03
    re: changing the needle after insulin, it is because heparin is an anticoagulant that you'd change the needle; "blue belly" = unnecessary bruising from the medicine that sticks to the outside of the needle.

    I'm glad people are responding; good idea about the 3cc syringe!
  13. by kimmicoobug
    Apr 17, '03
    I have never changed the needle with hep...but then again, I have only given it once.
    I have only really given Lovenox.
  14. by plumrn
    Apr 17, '03
    We're using Arixtra nowadays, come to think of it. Haven't given Heparin SQ in some time.

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