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?
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?
I recapped once as a student. I had just given insulin to a dialysis pt. and recapped the needle...I used perfect form until the needle poked through the side and stuck me in the finger. Fortunately the HIV tests were negative.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Even with a clean needle, you do NOT want to stick yourself. Remember, skin integrity; you don't want a portal for infection in your hand, even if it WAS A "clean" needle you stuck yourself with. That said, I never recap. No need to, thankfully with our safety needles we use. Like the others said, you just "snap em in place" to cover the needle. This helps a lot.
Okay, it seems that most say never recap. So what do you do when you don't have safety needles, and what do you do in the anesthesia surgery situations referenced above? In other words what is the specific technique that alleviates the need (or perceived need) to recap? Also, when people use the "scoop" technique how do they still stick themselves it would seem to be impossible if the technique if followed precisely.
Okay, so ... when I draw a med, if it's insulin, the needle is permanently attached to the insulin syringe. You can't take that one off and put another one on. So yes, I gotta recap it to walk to the patient's room with it. Afterwards, the flippy thing gets flipped, so it's safe between the injection and the throwing it away. I may ask my preceptor about the possibility of drawing the insulin at bedside; however I worry about forgetting to put the bottle back in the fridge.
The lovenox syringes are a horror in and of themselves. Oh wonderful, they have the automatic button that sends the protector flying out over the needle -shoop!- but the caps are stuck like superglue, and the needle is teenytiny and very easily bent. So uncapping it, for the first time, is unbelievable. I still can't figure out just exactly how much strength to use to get the thing OFF without damaging something else (needle, my fingers) in the process. And if you screw it up, it's a counted drug that you can't use in a different syringe - so throw the whole thing away and sign off on it. Not to mention the paperwork if you stick yourself.
Now, when using a regular old syringe to draw up a med, yes, I change needles afterwards. However, I have been taught to scoop-recap, use the cap to twist the old one off and throw that in the sharps container. I know from phlebotomy that you can stick the needle in the little groove on top of the sharps container to twist it off without recapping, and it drops neatly in the container. But umm, that thing is nasty. I don't want my sterile med coming anywhere near that surface! So how are you gonna get the first needle off without recapping or sticking yourself?
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:
Argh!! To the bone! I can feel that from here! Touche! :smiley_ab
Okay, it seems that most say never recap. So what do you do when you don't have safety needles, and what do you do in the anesthesia surgery situations referenced above? In other words what is the specific technique that alleviates the need (or perceived need) to recap? Also, when people use the "scoop" technique how do they still stick themselves it would seem to be impossible if the technique if followed precisely.
Ideally, you have a sharps container nearby to place used needles in or you draw up just before use at bedside and administer. Sometimes, you have to recap. If done properly, you won't stick yourself. Ideals are great, but in this case, you can never say never. Got to have a plan B!
Also, when people use the "scoop" technique how do they still stick themselves it would seem to be impossible if the technique if followed precisely.
It's not about the "scooping" part (laying the cap down on an even surface and going toward it - away from you - with the needle). The part where people get stuck in the scooping thing is when they lift the needle with the loose cap to a vertical position and then try to secure the cap with the fingers of the same hand or they carelessly push the cap down tight with the opposite hand. The tip of the needle frequently gets stuck into the side of the cap and when trying to fix this, the cap wiggles off or needs to be lifted off and re-placed, and that's when someone gets stuck. Or if they think they have successfully scooped into the cap on the surface and use their other hand to reach down and snap the cap on (while the whole thing is still sitting on the surface), and the needle really isn't in the cap at all or gets stuck in the side, etc.
And those 18ga needle you use to draw up meds hurt alot. As far as injecting one self inadvertantly when you stick yourself I dont think its much of an issue as the last time it happened to me I bled so much that anything in there came right out.
Unfortunately with insulin syringes most dont have a way to change the needle so one has to recap.
It's not about the "scooping" part (laying the cap down on an even surface and going toward it - away from you - with the needle). The part where people get stuck in the scooping thing is when they lift the needle with the loose cap to a vertical position and then try to secure the cap with the fingers of the same hand or they carelessly push the cap down tight with the opposite hand. The tip of the needle frequently gets stuck into the side of the cap and when trying to fix this, the cap wiggles off or needs to be lifted off and re-placed, and that's when someone gets stuck. Or if they think they have successfully scooped into the cap on the surface and use their other hand to reach down and snap the cap on (while the whole thing is still sitting on the surface), and the needle really isn't in the cap at all or gets stuck in the side, etc.
Good point. I got stuck once with an insulin needle that came right through the side of the cap. I didn't expect that!
We were shown that when we do scoop, we then turn the syringe with the partially capped needle towards the hard surface we are working on and push the cap on the rest of the way by pushing it on the surface...not with our other hand.
i always try and use the needleless system if possible, but the needleless caps SUCK at drawing a med out of a vial....so then i just use the needle to draw it up, then recap it (one hand scoop), and then remove the needle, and attach a needleless
PMHNP10
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I recapped once as a student. I had just given insulin to a dialysis pt. and recapped the needle...I used perfect form until the needle poked through the side and stuck me in the finger. Fortunately the HIV tests were negative.