mod 4 forms of injectable meds Flashcards
injectable meds in ampules
single-dose sealed glass container with a constricted neck that is designed to snap open.
- The neck may be marked with scoring, or a darkened ring around it to indicate where to break it open.
- To snap the neck off, wrap it with a plastic protective sleeve (if provided).
- —–If no sleeve is provided, wrap the neck with sterile gauze or an alcohol wipe before breaking.
withdrawing meds from ampules
- Use a syringe with a filter needle, which has a filter inside to prevent glass particulate from being drawn up into the syringe.
- Draw the medication into the syringe with a gentle pulling back on the plunger. This creates a negative pressure (sucking pressure) that pulls the medication into the syringe.
- After withdrawing the medication, be sure to remove the filter needle and attach a new needle appropriate for injecting the medication into the patient.
**always have a little more meds, make sure to measure accurately
***remove filter needle prior to med admin****
What item(s) can be used to prevent accidental cuts when breaking an ampule?
alcohol wipes
sterile gauze
plastic sheet
injectable meds in vial
vial is not broken wide open, it can contain multiple doses and comes in both multi-dose and single-dose size. If both sizes are available, always select the single-dose size to avoid cross-contamination between patients.
Medication in a vial may come as either a solution or as a powder for reconstitution before administration
withdrawing meds from vial
.1 Clean the diaphragm with an alcohol wipe.
- Fill the syringe with the volume of air equal to the amount of solution to be drawn from the vial.
- Inject the correct amount of air into the vial.
- Withdraw the precise dose of medication prescribed.
- Double-check the dose of medication with the provider’s order.
A healthcare provider orders 10 mg of a medication for a patient. Available is a single-dose vial containing 10 mg/5 mL, or a multi-dose vial containing 100 mg/50 mL. Why would the nurse choose to use the single-dose vial?
To minimize the risk of cross-contamination between patients
When opened for the first time, vials have plastic or metal lids that must be removed prior to preparing the dose of the medication. What is the purpose of these lids?
To cover the diaphragm on top of the vial
Injectable Medications in Mix-o-Vials
Some medications for injection come in powder form and must be mixed with a solution (reconstitution) before administration. This powdered form is necessary for medications that are unstable in solution over long periods of time.
Reconstituting powdered medications before injection is made far more convenient by packaging them in mix-o-vials. A mix-o-vial is usually a single-dose vial with two compartments separated by a rubber stopper. Sterile liquid (the diluent) is stored in the top compartment, with the powdered medication in the bottom compartment. When pressure is applied to the top of the vial, the rubber stopper between the two compartments drops, allowing the liquid to dissolve the powder and the medication to be mixed.
mix-o-vial procedure
Press firmly on the top of the vial to push the rubber stopper in.
The rubber stopper falls into the bottom compartment, and the diluent mixes with the powder.
Withdraw the correct dosage of the mixed solution, as from any vial.
injectable meds in cartridges
Another single-dose container for injectable medications is a prefilled glass or plastic cartridge.
A distinct advantage to the cartridge is that the dosage is clearly marked on its barrel.
To release medication from the cartridge, some cartridges require a special holder called a tubex or carpuject. The white plastic luer-lock tip attaches to IV tubing or a needle that can be attached to the tip. The white plastic portion on the end of the carpuject can also be removed, exposing a rubber stopper in which a blunt needle can be inserted into the cartridge to remove the correct amount. As with ampules and vials,
Remember to change the blunt needle to a safety needle if giving an injection.
prefilled syringes
may or may not come w a needle
2 example:
epiPen and hep b vaccine
After selecting a prefilled medication cartridge to fill an order, which additional piece of equipment is required to inject the medication?
carpujet
To change needles before injecting a patient, which needle/syringe system would be required?
safety needle
reconstituting meds
Safety Alert!
Remember:
Reconstituted medications may require refrigeration.
The type and amount of diluent can vary from one product to another; always consult the label or package insert directions.
Always use sterile solution for injection for mixing to administer a medication by parenteral route.
reconstitute words
Solute: Powdered medication or liquid concentrate
Solvent/diluent: Liquid to be added to the powder or concentrate; usually means sterile normal saline solution, bacteriostatic water, or in some cases, a special diluent provided with the medication
Solution: Liquid produced by adding the diluent
Solution strength: Relationship of solute to solvent; e.g., 10 mL of normal saline solution mixed with 1 g of powdered medication produces a solution strength of 1 g/10 mL, or 100 mg/mL
Remember: The amount of diluent may be altered, but the amount of solute remains the same.
