rules of injections

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

Can you explain what are you expected to give?

TazziRN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

I get it....OP is expected to inject meds drawn up by other staff. I wouldn't do it either, check with your BON.

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

been doing it a long time and will not bend--learned you draw what you shoot and only shoot what you have drawn! have pressure to shoot what others draw up--still refusing!!!!
Where do I find this guideline to show to "powers in charge"????? Have looked all over tx board website it's my license at stake(they don't have one) or my job HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

check your own facility's policy.

never ever give a med you didn't draw up yourself.

ever.

christen13 · Jun 29, 2006

Hey all,

I do give injections that others have drawn. I know this is a no-no, they drilled it in our heads never to do this in nursing school. But as you all know ... nursing school typically does not show us the "real world". I think in nursing school that they have an oblegation to teach students the, textbook way. However we have all learned that a lot of it certainly is not reality. I am very concience regarding med admin, and have never had a problem with this. This is not to say that I always do it...depends on the med, who drew it up. I feel that I can safely trust about 90% of my coworkers....we are fortunate to have exeptional RN's in our unit :)

Just wanted to be honest and tell you what I do.........

I would not advise it, as you certainly can run into troube.

Thanks...christen

jmgrn65, RN · Jun 29, 2006

Safe practice is to not give anything that you haven't drawn up yourself, unless you are absoutley sure what it is or witnessed what was pulled up. Just my :twocents:

rninme · Jun 29, 2006

Won't do it....can't make me!!

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

when I was a student a staff nurse drew up some insulin and left it at the bottom of a pts bed then he asked me to go give it. I said NO I will not, I didnt see you draw it up, anything could be in that syringe, if you drew it up you give it. He said to me ' I'm telling you that insulin is in that syringe, now go give it'

I never gave It, I never have, and I never will. I was questioned by the manager of the medical unit why, and he was happy with my explanation, and no further action was taken. I was a 2nd yr student but I stand by those decisions even today.

When I was in the UK we made up all our own Ab's, when I came here I found that pharmacy makes them up and that really makes me unhappy, because you are relying on someone somewhere, whom you dont know from adam to add your ab's.

TazziRN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

If something is labelled it's one thing. You have to assume that what's on the label is what's in the bag or syringe. Most syringes aren't labelled, however.

I would not advise it, as you certainly can run into troube.

Then why do you do it? There are things that we learned in nursing school that we do differently now that we are out in the real world, but there are a few that need to be done as we were taught.....the procedures of giving meds is one of them. If you said you could trust 99% of your coworkersm, then I could see taking the chance, but a 10% possibility of giving the wrong med is too big for me. This is pretty scary.

christen13 · Jun 29, 2006

I agree with all of you, I am just telling you that this is customary in our unit. We do label all syringes and I would not administer if it was not labeled by the prior RN. I will think about your comments :)

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

I've been a nurse for 20 years and I have never given anything I did not draw up myself. I had 2 facilities change their policy because of my refusal. It is a bad practice and will only stop when people speak up.

Dorito, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

I agree. I don't give any medications that someone else has drawn up either. As far as labeling goes- who's to say that it isn't labeled incorrectly as well? Lasix 40mg ( could be 20mg or different med completely) I also won't give any p.o. meds that someone has removed from a wrapper. Hard to believe that you can't find some documentation in books warning against this practice.