Vial Medication Administration: How to Withdraw Vial Medication Nursing Skill

RegisteredNurseRN

1 Feb 202109:29

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative video, Sarah demonstrates the proper technique for withdrawing medication from a vial, emphasizing the importance of following employer guidelines and manufacturer recommendations. She outlines the necessary supplies, such as the correct syringe size and vial access devices, and details the steps for preparation, including hand hygiene and vial cleaning. Sarah explains the process of injecting air into the vial to prevent vacuum formation, and carefully describes how to withdraw the medication without coring the rubber stopper. The video concludes with the recommendation to change the needle before administration to ensure patient comfort and safety.

Takeaways

📋 Always follow your employer's guidelines and the drug manufacturer's recommendations when withdrawing medication from a vial.
🧪 Gather necessary supplies by checking the physician's order, selecting the correct medication vial, and choosing the appropriate syringe size based on the medication dosage.
🍼 Use an alcohol prep to clean the top of the vial for 30 seconds to reduce contamination before withdrawing medication.
💉 Choose the right vial access device, such as a plain needle, blunt tip needle, or filter needle, depending on the medication type and facility protocols.
🌬️ Instill air into the vial before withdrawing medication to prevent a vacuum from forming, making it easier to remove the medication, especially for multi-dose vials.
📏 Inject an amount of air equal to the volume of medication being withdrawn to maintain pressure inside the vial.
💧 Use a technique to prevent coring when piercing the vial stopper, such as centering the needle on the bullseye design and rotating it smoothly to a 90-degree angle.
🚫 Never touch the shaft of the plunger or the end of the syringe tip to avoid contamination.
🔄 Check for air bubbles in the syringe after withdrawing the medication and remove them to ensure accurate dosage.
🥼 Change the needle before administering the medication to prevent dulling the needle and potential injection of medication residue into the patient's tissues.
🔄 Perform hand hygiene and double-check all steps before administering the medication to the patient.

Q & A

What is the first step in withdrawing medication from a vial?
-The first step is to gather your supplies, which includes checking the physician's order, getting the correct medication vial, alcohol prep, a syringe, a vial access device, and an extra needle for administering the medication.
Why is it important to follow your employer's guidelines and the drug manufacturer's recommendations when withdrawing medication from a vial?
-Following these guidelines ensures safety, accuracy, and adherence to best practices in medication administration, which can prevent medication errors and potential harm to patients.
What types of vial access devices can be used for withdrawing medication?
-Different types of vial access devices include a plain needle with a beveled tip, a blunt tip fill needle, and a filter needle. The choice depends on the specific medication and the facility's protocols.
Why is hand hygiene performed before and after handling medication?
-Hand hygiene is crucial to prevent contamination of the medication and the spread of infections. It is a fundamental infection control practice in healthcare settings.
How much air should be injected into the vial before withdrawing medication?
-The amount of air injected should be equal to the amount of medication being withdrawn. This prevents a vacuum from forming inside the vial, which can make it difficult to remove the medication.
What is the purpose of inverting the vial after injecting air and before withdrawing the medication?
-Inverting the vial helps to ensure that the air is properly distributed within the vial and that no medication is trapped in the needle or the access device, allowing for accurate withdrawal of the required dosage.
Why is it necessary to change the needle after withdrawing the medication and before administering it to the patient?
-Changing the needle prevents dulling of the needle, which can cause discomfort to the patient, and also avoids injecting any medication residue from the vial into the patient's tissues, which could cause issues.
What technique should be used to pierce the vial stopper to prevent coring?
-To prevent coring, the needle should be positioned at the center of the bullseye on the vial stopper at a 45-degree angle with the bevel facing up. As the needle penetrates the stopper, pressure is applied while simultaneously rotating the needle to a 90-degree angle in a smooth motion.
How do you ensure that you have the appropriate amount of medication in the syringe before administering it?
-You should check for air bubbles, flick the barrel lightly to remove them, and then check the markings on the syringe barrel to confirm that you are at the correct mark indicating the right dosage.
What additional step is taken before administering the medication to the patient?
-Before administering the medication, it is important to double-check all the steps and perform hand hygiene again to maintain aseptic technique and prevent infection.
Where can one find more videos on nursing skills like withdrawing medication from a vial?
-Additional nursing skill videos can be accessed through the link provided in the YouTube description of the video.

Outlines

00:00

💉 Introduction to Withdrawing Medication from a Vial

This paragraph introduces the process of withdrawing medication from a vial, emphasizing the importance of following employer guidelines and drug manufacturer recommendations. It outlines the necessary supplies, including the medication vial, a syringe, alcohol prep, and a vial access device. The paragraph also explains the selection of syringe size based on the medication volume and the need for an additional needle for administering the medication. Hand hygiene and syringe setup are also discussed, highlighting the correct handling techniques to prevent contamination.

05:01

💧 Preparing the Syringe and Vial for Medication Withdrawal

This paragraph details the steps for preparing the syringe and vial before withdrawing medication. It explains the procedure of instilling air into the syringe to prevent vacuum formation, the correct way to hold and prepare the vial, and the importance of cleaning the vial's exposed top. The paragraph also describes the technique for piercing the vial stopper to avoid coring and the process of injecting air into the vial. It further explains how to check for air bubbles, the proper handling of the plunger, and the rationale behind changing the needle before administering the medication to the patient.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Medication Vial

A medication vial is a small glass or plastic container that holds liquid medication. In the video, the process of withdrawing medication from a vial is demonstrated, which is essential for administering the correct dosage to a patient. The vial has a rubber stopper through which the medication is accessed using a syringe and needle.

💡Syringe

A syringe is a medical device consisting of a plunger that fits tightly within a cylindrical tube for sucking in or expelling a liquid. In the context of the video, a syringe is used to withdraw medication from a vial and later to administer it to a patient. The size of the syringe is chosen based on the volume of medication required.

💡Vial Access Device

A vial access device is a specialized needle or other instrument used to access the contents of a medication vial without coring or contaminating the medication. These devices are crucial for maintaining sterility and preventing needlestick injuries during medication withdrawal.

💡Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene refers to the practice of cleaning hands to remove dirt, germs, and other contaminants to prevent infection. In the video, performing hand hygiene is emphasized as an essential step before handling medication to ensure safety and prevent contamination.

💡Physician's Order

A physician's order, or prescription, is a legal directive from a licensed medical practitioner indicating the type, dose, route, and frequency of a medication to be given to a patient. In the video, checking the physician's order is the first step to determine which medication to withdraw from the vial.

💡Alcohol Prep

An alcohol prep is a swab or pad saturated with isopropyl alcohol used for disinfecting skin or medical equipment surfaces before injections or other procedures. In the video, an alcohol prep pad is used to clean the top of the medication vial to reduce the risk of contamination.

💡Coreing

Coreing is a term used in medical procedures when parts of the rubber stopper from a vial or other container enter the container, potentially contaminating the contents. The video emphasizes the importance of using proper needle insertion techniques to prevent coring and maintain medication safety.

💡Filter Needle

A filter needle is a type of syringe needle that includes a built-in filter at the tip to prevent particles or contaminants from entering the syringe or being injected into the patient. It is particularly useful when withdrawing medication from glass ampoules or when the medication requires reconstitution from a powder form.

💡Medication Administration

Medication administration refers to the process of giving a patient their prescribed medication in the correct dosage and form as per the physician's order. In the video, the final step after withdrawing medication from a vial is to administer it to the patient using a new, sterile needle.

💡Reconstitution

Reconstitution is the process of mixing a powdered medication with a liquid, such as sterile water, to create a solution for injection. This is necessary for certain medications that are stored in a dry form and must be mixed with a diluent before use.

💡Sterility

Sterility refers to the state of being free from all forms of microbial life, which is critical in medical procedures to prevent infections. The video underscores the importance of maintaining sterility when withdrawing and administering medication to ensure patient safety.

Highlights

The video demonstrates the process of withdrawing medication from a vial, emphasizing the importance of following employer's guidelines and drug manufacturer's recommendations.

Gathering supplies is the first step, which includes checking the physician's order, selecting the correct medication vial, and necessary equipment like a syringe and vial access device.

The size of the syringe depends on the amount of medication to be administered, with a 3ml syringe used in the example for withdrawing 2mls of medication.

Performing hand hygiene is crucial before handling medication to maintain aseptic technique and prevent contamination.

Different vial access devices can be used for withdrawing medication, such as a plain needle, blunt tip fill needle, or filter needle, depending on the medication type and facility protocols.

When withdrawing medication from a glass ampoule, a filter straw is always recommended to prevent contamination.

Proper syringe handling is emphasized, such as only touching the plunger, phalange, and barrel to avoid contamination of the syringe tip.

Air is instilled into the vial before withdrawing medication to prevent a vacuum from forming, making it easier to remove the medication, especially for multi-dose vials.

The amount of air injected into the vial should be equal to the amount of medication being withdrawn to maintain pressure equilibrium.

Using the correct needle insertion technique prevents coring, where parts of the rubber stopper can enter the vial and contaminate it.

After injecting air and withdrawing medication, the vial and syringe needle access device are inverted to ensure no air bubbles are trapped, which could lead to inaccurate dosage.

Air bubbles in the syringe are removed by gently flicking the barrel, ensuring accuracy and patient safety.

A new needle is attached for administering the medication to prevent discomfort from a dull needle and to avoid injecting any medication residue from the vial into the patient.

Hand hygiene is performed again before administering the medication, reinforcing the importance of aseptic technique in nursing procedures.

The video provides a comprehensive guide on safe and effective medication withdrawal from a vial, highlighting the need for meticulous attention to detail and adherence to protocols.

Transcripts

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Vial Medication Administration: How to Withdraw Vial Medication Nursing Skill

Takeaways

Q & A

What is the first step in withdrawing medication from a vial?

Why is it important to follow your employer's guidelines and the drug manufacturer's recommendations when withdrawing medication from a vial?

What types of vial access devices can be used for withdrawing medication?

Why is hand hygiene performed before and after handling medication?

How much air should be injected into the vial before withdrawing medication?

What is the purpose of inverting the vial after injecting air and before withdrawing the medication?

Why is it necessary to change the needle after withdrawing the medication and before administering it to the patient?

What technique should be used to pierce the vial stopper to prevent coring?

How do you ensure that you have the appropriate amount of medication in the syringe before administering it?

What additional step is taken before administering the medication to the patient?

Where can one find more videos on nursing skills like withdrawing medication from a vial?