Why are ampules stil used?

[Sarah Bellum]

Does anyone know? We are working on med administration in nursing school right now, they sure don't seem safe. No one has hurt themselves on one yet but I've rad the stories here and wonder why they are still around.

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

ahhh... is there anything more satisfying than to crack the top off on an ampule?...

How about opening a bristojet of Epi/Atropine/etc? Flicking the yellow caps into the air with your thumbs...screwing the two parts together...and squirting a stream of liquid into the air...

Just like Johnny Gage! :redbeathe (You young people can look it up!)

ok... maybe cracking the top off of a nice cold lager on a hot summer day...

But I won't argue about cracking open a cold one....:cheers:

[SeanMeadows]

I have a better way of explaining the maneuver... And I will relate it to a full bottle of ketchup... See, you want gravity on your side.. So, that full ketchup bottle... Well, lay it on its side, break that top seal of gooey tomato, open, and pour.. Volia!

See, the cohesion ('water sticking to sides') is what keeps it in there... So, get it off those sides... And, if you need a windmill motion, well, check your clearance for takeoff, and go!

[psalm51]

best method for getting all liquid into the 'bottom' part of the ampule is to place between both palms and roll it quickly 2 or 3 times.

when i don't have an ampule breaker, i wrap in alcohol swab (package and all) -- it at least helps.

best thing to do is present yourself to ER for treatment. a couple of those bills, and the hospital will seriously consider purchasing ampule breaking devices.

[oncnursemsn]

:no:dilantin iv is another med that i've only seen in ampoules. i use a 2x2 guaze and snap it away from me. it took just one thumb splice to learn this- never again.

don't want to spoil this thread- but do yall always use a filter needle? fine particles of glass can get in. we didn't even have filter needles at my big hospital in a big city till i pitched a stink and showed the nurse managers the evidence. (what'd we do before google?)

[oramar]

We were taught to use a special filter needle to draw up the fluid then change to a regular needle. Do they still do that?

[Sarah Bellum]

We were taught to use a special filter needle to draw up the fluid then change to a regular needle. Do they still do that?

Yep. We just learned it that way in the past month.

[Halinja, BSN, RN]

We were taught to use a special filter needle to draw up the fluid then change to a regular needle. Do they still do that?

That's what we do

[Lexxie, LPN]

I was taught to use a filter needle and then change to a regular needle for the injection. My current employer does not have filter needles. They don't seem concerned about the possibility of minute glass shards being injected into a patient. Is it safe to do this?

[czyja, MSN, RN]

I suspect they are still used because they work.

The ampoule contents remain sterile with no chance of contamination, adulteration, fraud, or what not as long as the glass is in tact. If the glass is broken it is mighty obvious. They are sort of the original "'safety seal."

I like 'em.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

When I first started out I knew absolutely nothing about using a filter needle, and we used to give Phenergan out of ampules like it was water. I look back & shudder!!

Now, I would not think of drawing anything out of an ampule w/o one.

[KyPinkRN]

How about opening a bristojet of Epi/Atropine/etc? Flicking the yellow caps into the air with your thumbs...screwing the two parts together...and squirting a stream of liquid into the air...

Just like Johnny Gage! :redbeathe (You young people can look it up!)

But I won't argue about cracking open a cold one....:cheers:

I :redbeathe Johnny Gage... I have been watching all the episodes on Netflix.

That part of the opening credits is my very favorite!

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

We use ampules of a few things, Fentanyl and Lidocaine, mostly. Also for inhaled Prostacyclin. The ONLY time we use filter needles is for the Prostacyclin, and we practically have to beat pharmacy into giving them to us. It's like no one on my unit has ever even HEARD of them.