Suggestions please!

thing · #11 (**permalink**) 07-Jul-2008, 06:41

The trust I am at doesn't have the rubber openers either, not that I have ever seen or head mentioned. Like Kentish I use the syringe packet to place over the bit that breaks away and that has saved me from the cuts I used to get.. which embarrassingly try to bleed you out far in excess of the size of the cut. Oh also as suggested put the dot facing you and press away from you. Good luck. Hopefully you'll not have anymore cut fingers!

TallPoppy · #12 (**permalink**) 07-Jul-2008, 07:04

Originally Posted by tracyb

I use a paper towel too, for all of the glass viles.

Me too, Ive never had a cut because I was shown to use one right from the start.

Norman · #13 (**permalink**) 08-Jul-2008, 19:19

My trust seem to be discouraging me from using the paper towels now - poor me

!

Pixie · #14 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2008, 08:23

Originally Posted by midwifemissy

I am having real problems opening the little phials (if that is the right term?) that contain things like Vit K without catching my finger on the edge and making it bleed. I have tried several different ways of opening them with no luck.

Just wondered if anyone has any tips I can try to avoid this please?

Thanks. x

OMG...i cannot believe i havent noticed this post before, i have the exact same problem!
I better go read people suggestions!

XXX

Bunny · #15 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2008, 08:55

Just to say that I'd never heard of the stopper/cover things and standard practice where I work is to use the needle packet.

Having said that, if you do cut your finger and haven't got the stopper/cover things in your Trust, maybe you should be filling in an incident form? I know its a bit Health and Safety jobsworth (yeah, yeah, Mario is my hero...

) but I'm sure that's what happened at the Trusts that now have these stoppers. And also, proper training helps - don't do it unless someone has showed you how to! I must admit I can never remember which direction to break it in and where to position the dot...

smwife · #16 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2008, 09:34

We use the wrappers from syringes or needles to open them, as this is a problem with all of those glass vials, also holding the bottle as low down the neck as possible and at the dots on the bottle too

It works wonders for me, we always use a different needle after too, to prevent tiny glass shards after we've drawn up the drug

hth?

midwifemissy · #17 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2008, 09:35

Thanks hun,

I will try that next time I have to use one, it is very annoying to keep cutting my fingers everytime lol.

Duel · #18 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2008, 09:38

smwife does your trust not uses filter needles to draw up drug from glass amps?

smwife · #19 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2008, 09:38

Your mentor should have shown you MM, tbh I am a bit cross that she did not as those cuts hurt! and with you working in that environment you have been vulnerable to picking up all sorts of infections!

It really works for me, I never try it without now

midwifemissy · #20 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2008, 09:43

I have been shown how to open them when I first started on the unit, but never using anything to protect my fingers. Just which way round to hold the vial etc. I always do it with the dot facing me, hold it near the bottom of the 'neck' part etc.
But try as I might, I just can't do it without cutting my fingers at the same time.

Originally Posted by smwife

Your mentor should have shown you MM, tbh I am a bit cross that she did not as those cuts hurt! and with you working in that environment you have been vulnerable to picking up all sorts of infections!

It really works for me, I never try it without now

Suggestions please!

Suggestions please!

Similar Threads