What's the StraightDope on recapping needles?

[Roland]

The "book" simply says not to recap. However, most instructors say don't recap, and then go on to demonstrate the "scoop" technique of recapping with the cap on the table. Many nurses say they feel they need to recap because otherwise they are walking to the hazardous disposal bin with an uncapped needle that could injure someone. So here are my focused questions:

1. Is recapping even with the "scoop" technique dangerous?

2. IF so what is the recommended approach for dealing with the uncapped needle until you can get it to the hazardous waste?

Has anyone ever thought about inventing a disposable, puncture resistant "needle bag" that could be used to hold the dirty needle thereby reducing the need to recap, or the chance of a mishap from an exposed needle?

[Katnip, RN]

The needles we use are safety type needles. After you use them, you flip a little thing and a cover goes over the needle. No need to recap.

We do recap blunt and filter needles after we draw a med, but those never go into a patient, so sticking yourself with one would be less dangerous, though still painful.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

After you draw up a medication, you scoop to recap to bring it into the room.

After you inject a patient, then I usually don't scoop, I just walk to the sharps box and put it in there, but then I'm walking with a needle and could trip or hurt someone, so maybe the scoop techniqe for recapping is o.k.

We now have some of those snap caps like cyberkat has for use on IM injections which is nice.

[dphrn]

This may be a dumb question Tweety, but why do you scoop after you draw a medication up? If you have not stuck the patient yet, why should you scoop instead of just cap it back on the needle? What is the danger of that if the needle has not been exposed to anyone or anything? Just curious.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

This may be a dumb question Tweety, but why do you scoop after you draw a medication up? If you have not stuck the patient yet, why should you scoop instead of just cap it back on the needle? What is the danger of that if the needle has not been exposed to anyone or anything? Just curious.

I do it because I don't want to accidentally inject myself with any of the medication.........especially insulin and narcotics. :uhoh21:

[redwinggirlie]

Scooping is good, the flip-up safety needles are the best. If I have to walk five steps to the sharps container, I hold the syringe needle down as I go.

[Roland]

Scooping is good, the flip-up safety needles are the best. If I have to walk five steps to the sharps container, I hold the syringe needle down as I go.

I would think that there might also be a contamination issue with scooping before injection. However, my main question concerned what the "book" answer to the quandry was. If you are going to "don recap" (period, as most text books do) then you have an obligation to explain exactly what can be done to minimize the risk of accidental needle sticks.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

We have safety devices on our needles that slide down and click in place, I use them on the patient then throw the whole thing in the sharps box. Does anyone know if any official agency (JCAHO, OSHA, whoever) cares if we recap sterile (never even been in a patient room) needles?

I started nursing just as needle-less systems were starting up and before they were required. I sure appreciate all the innovations we have now to shield those needles. The one dirty needlestick I had would not have happened nowadays as we have safety devices that most likely would have prevented what happened. And it had nothing to do with recapping.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

This may be a dumb question Tweety, but why do you scoop after you draw a medication up? If you have not stuck the patient yet, why should you scoop instead of just cap it back on the needle? What is the danger of that if the needle has not been exposed to anyone or anything? Just curious.

I'm a clutz, always have been. I can't tell you how many clean needles I have stuck myself with, (usually when drawing up saline flushes) once right to the bone causing a big bruise. I've learned the hard way to scoop and be careful with clean needles, which leads me to near paranoia about "dirty" ones. :rotfl:

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

To prevent the need for re-capping I draw up my meds at the patiant's bedside. We are now using the needless system so the helps too. And most of our injection needles have the cool thing that slips down over the used needle to prevent sticks when placing in the sharps box.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Never, ever recap. Don't get in the habit. We have the safety devices and I utilize those, or if they're not available I use a small dish and throw the used needle in there and then just empty the whole dish into the sharps box. I was always taught to draw up with one needle, and then use a fresh needle to inject the patient with...hence no recapping issues. I always use a small dish when taking blood or giving injections. That way I always have something to throw my needle into.

[grimmy, RN]

never, ever recap. don't get in the habit. we have the safety devices and i utilize those, or if they're not available i use a small dish and throw the used needle in there and then just empty the whole dish into the sharps box. i was always taught to draw up with one needle, and then use a fresh needle to inject the patient with...hence no recapping issues. i always use a small dish when taking blood or giving injections. that way i always have something to throw my needle into.

for us in the or, this is impossible. we must recap, and we do it constantly. we don't always have the time or luxury of being able to draw up things as needed. when drawing up and using anesthetics while scrubbed, we recap between drawing up and administration and/or between administrations (if there are more than one). for anesthesia, recapping is a way of life. i do my best not to recap. there are a few meds that are packaged in such a way that i can simply drop them aseptically onto a field, which is really nice. then it is up to the scrub. i have seen more nurses cut themselves on glass ampules than anything else...