Recapping?

Scrubby · Jan 12, 2008

I always treat anything as 'if in doubt throw it out'.

Except for the bottle of betadine. We will recap the bottle, use the same bottle for each case for the rest of the day. At the end of the list we throw it out. I haven't seen anyone recap a bottle of saline or water, formalin yes. A good question though...

OR male nurse · Jan 12, 2008

Worked at (2) different hospitals and we put the cap back on if we don't pour it all out.

OR male nurse · Jan 12, 2008

We will recap the bottle, use the same bottle for each case for the rest of the day. At the end of the list we throw it out.

Just wondered if you are opening a bottle of something using part of it for one patient, recapping it, and then using the same bottle for other patients.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jan 12, 2008

Just wondered if you are opening a bottle of something using part of it for one patient, recapping it, and then using the same bottle for other patients.

No, same patient. But in my last hospital, they would foam at the mouth if they saw you recap a bottle of sterile saline. I'm not sure if this is one of those "sacred cows" that are falling by the wayside.

4x4country · Jan 12, 2008

i am a student in nursing program and we are taught that you can use it with the same pt, except you have to "LIP" the edge of the bottle, each means that you pour a splash out to sterilize the edge of the bottle. we have been doing this in clinicals and in lab. As long as it is dated and initialed. Hearing everyone say that others would blow steam out of their ears makes me wonder if we are really suppose to be doing this. But this is what I was taught so I guess I keep during at least in front of the teachers during check off time. :specs:

HaleyRN · Jan 13, 2008

I am a new nurse and have been working in the OR for a little over 6 months now. When I was in training, I was told/taught that once you pull the wrapper off, take the lid off, and pour it onto the sterile field, that's it. If you pull the bottle back and stop pouring, you can't start again. That's what I was told, so that's what I do. If I don't use it all, I chunk the rest or us it for something unsterile.

ewattsjt · Jan 13, 2008

I have done clinicals and worked where they have done it three ways but it is always on the same patient only:

1) Once it is opened and poured; it is finished…everything is like a single use.

2) Once it is opened and poured it can be recapped and repoured as long as you “lip it”…pour some over the edge into the trash to flush the lip.

3) Once it is opened and poured, the remainder is set aside and the “lip it” method is used. If it is recapped, it must be discarded.

I guess it is one of those things where you do what facility policy dictates.

My personal feeling is that once it is opened, it should be used as a single use. The lipping method does save money but if microbes are introduced how much was really saved? Ever seen a child’s drink while eating crackers? IMHO microbes have the potential to backwash over the lip from the first pour in the same mannerism.

I was also taught that you never give the last little bit of something during a pour because the end drops (not having as much pressure on it) have the same potential to run back somewhat into the lip edge and or thread of the neck of the bottle that is non sterile.