We were having a discussion about this in clinical today and I was hoping to get some input..
I know that you should never recap a needle, but are there instances which are unavoidable and it must be done? i.e. if you just gave an IM injection in the deltoid closest to the window in the room and would have to walk around the bed and to the other side of the room to get to a sharps container?
I know a lot of needles have safety devices that will cover the needle when done, but I'm talking about needles that do not have these devices.
I intern on a med-surg floor, and we pass a lot of meds. The procedure used by most floor nurses is to draw from a vial with a large bore needle(18ga, easy to draw) and then recap by scooping the cover with the sharp and hanging the cover on the sharp. Then grabbing from the side to push the cover on. The reason this is done is to cover the Luer lock on the syringe until the med is given by IV push. We were taught the one hand method in school as part of our clinical teaching in first semester. Some Pedi offices use syringes without any safety devices.
I understand the no capping after giving an injection but never understood not recapping after preparing an injection. If you happen to poke yourself, then so be it... you prepare a new injection. Obviously, you don't want to be careless about it, but if it happens it happens.
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
We recap if we pull up a med that is done by injection. I am certainly not about to draw it up and leave it uncapped until I get into the room to give it.
manofcare
117 Posts
I intern on a med-surg floor, and we pass a lot of meds. The procedure used by most floor nurses is to draw from a vial with a large bore needle(18ga, easy to draw) and then recap by scooping the cover with the sharp and hanging the cover on the sharp. Then grabbing from the side to push the cover on. The reason this is done is to cover the Luer lock on the syringe until the med is given by IV push. We were taught the one hand method in school as part of our clinical teaching in first semester. Some Pedi offices use syringes without any safety devices.