scoop method for recapping

Nurses Activism

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I am an LPN in an assisted living facility. I am currently 28 days away from graduation for my RN. I have worked in this facility for about 8 mths and in that time I have asked for safety insulin needles from our DON and RD. We are on our 3rd RD and I have been asking her for 2 mths for the same thing. I have been saying this is dangerous and it is the law, someone is going to get stuck, because I was taught in school to use the scoop method for safety of pts and visitors as well as yourself. . Well this week the needle slipped on the table and jammed through the cap and my other hand was poked. My RD is writing me up for improper procedure, when everything I have researched says that the scoop method is to be used when needed(and in this case since this facility I work in says they do not have to provide us with safety needles). Any advice is needed. I refused to sign the write up because the company is also in the wrong by allowing use to work in unsafe conditions.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

If you were scooping properly, your hand would not have been poked, your hand should not be anywhere near the needle, you are supposed to have the cap where it will be stopped by another object such as the edge of medcart, a book etc.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I'm sorry for your situation, but I don't understand why you were recapping at all, using any method. Do you not have a sharps container in each room and on your med cart?

I understand your desire for the state of the art safety syringes, but they are no guarantee against accidental needle stick either, as they can malfunction. I think the more pressing issue is to have sharps containers immediately available in every patient care area so there is no need (or temptation) to recap. In over 25 years as an RN, I can't remember the last time I re-capped a needle.

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Agree with pp, never recap a used needle, even the scoop method - as you have found out - is unsafe (and so, IMHO, are some so-called "safety needles". But I digress).

Treat the uncapped used needle like a loaded gun and transport it to the sharps container asap. If there isn't one, then your employer is in the wrong for not providing you with a proper method to dispose of used sharps (i.e., a conveniently located sharps box)!

Good luck!

DeLana

P.S. As for clean needles, I recap those all the time (not using a scoop method).

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Treat the uncapped used needle like a loaded gun

Best analogy I've heard for sharps.

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