Question re: Tubex syringes

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Apr 10, 2005

i bet i haven't had to give an injection by way of tubex for over 10 years.
well...here sits the old metal tubex injector right next to it...hmmm...i know there are some nurses at our facility that have never even used anything like this. i tried looking up some sort of visual on using a tubex online and so far, have come up with absolutely nothing! to all the experienced nurses out there...could you give step by step instructions on properly using the old metal style tubex? or...point me to some visuals on this?

are you talking about a blue tubex, or a silver one? i'm trying to visualize it right now. the prefilled med has the little srewy thing on the bottom, right? screw the med to the tubex, and then bring up thepiece that screws over the bottom part of the med (does this make any sense??)

also, here's an idea (what i usually do). in peds, we never give a full dose of what's in there, and it's usually an iv med (so it needs to be needle-less). if the needle part of the med syringe pops off (like ours do), there should be a little port under it, from which you can draw your med into a regular syringe. try it

Marshmallow · Apr 10, 2005

are you talking about a blue tubex, or a silver one? i'm trying to visualize it right now. the prefilled med has the little srewy thing on the bottom, right? screw the med to the tubex, and then bring up thepiece that screws over the bottom part of the med (does this make any sense??)
also, here's an idea (what i usually do). in peds, we never give a full dose of what's in there, and it's usually an iv med (so it needs to be needle-less). if the needle part of the med syringe pops off (like ours do), there should be a little port under it, from which you can draw your med into a regular syringe. try it

it is the old metal type...not the light blue plastic one. cindy :)

HillaryC, RN, CRNA · Apr 10, 2005

It is the old metal type...not the light blue plastic one. Cindy :)

I'm a new nurse, so I don't know anything about the old metal tubex holders. Does it look similar to the new blue plastic ones? Have you asked pharmacy how to use the metal holder? Have you asked them if they have the newer blue ones? That's who I got mine from (it's called a carpuject).

Most nurses where I work don't bother with the carpuject. They just use the plunger from an insulin syringe to push the medication to the top of the cartridge, screw a needle onto the white leur lock part on top of the cartridge, and give the med that way. Alternatively, like someone else mentioned, you can pop the white plastic part off, inject a 3cc syringe with needle (or even an insulin syringe -- but don't bend the needle!) into the cartridge and draw the med up that way. The plunger from the insulin syringe comes in handy there too.

Good luck!

RNKPCE · Apr 10, 2005

I had forgotten about the metal tubex thingie! We may still have some of the light blue plastic things around but more often I see the clear and blue prefilled syringe holder. But that we don't even use much anymore.

Mulan · Apr 10, 2005

Aren't those old metal ones obsolete? Due to the fact that they are prone to needle sticks? The cartridge with the needle attached slid in and then had to be slid out with the used needle still attached.

We don't use anything anymore, and the narcs all come in those carbujects or whatever they are. We just take off the attached needle part and then use a regular syringe and needle to draw up the med, just stick the needle through the rubber part.

The blue tubex that has only the plunger part won't work with the carbuject either. I used to carry my own, the old metal one, then the blue but haven't used anything in years now.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2005

Call your pharmacy and ask for a tubex syringe applicator or a few if many med rooms/carts. And ask for an inservice. Get rid of the old metal one, use the new ones they are simpler.

TRAUMAMAN001 · Mar 3, 2010

saw some on ebay recently under blue tubex:)