Ideas That Work: Are Your Medication Injection Practices Safe?

Ideas That Work

By: OSD Staff

Published: 8/2/2017

Share:
injection practice SECRET SHOPPER Observe your OR team's medication injection practices.

Are Your Medication Injection Practices Safe?

Use this worksheet to observe your team's medication injection practices. Are they using single-dose vials for more than one patient? Are they disinfecting all rubber septums and the injection port on the IV with an alcohol wipe before use?

Don't announce that you're watching these practices. Just observe and see what the practices are — then address any safety concerns. Give those who do well a shout out. Educate those who don't do so well. Once complete, save this sheet as evidence of your infection prevention surveillance activities.

Kathy W. Beydler, RN, MBA, CASC, CNOR
Strategic Surgical Solutions
Eads, Tenn.
[email protected]

Observation
Yes/No
Provider
Single-dose vials are used for only one patient.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      
Multi-dose vials are accessed outside of the patient care area.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      
Multi-dose vials are labeled with a 28-day expiration after opening.
Note: If the printed expiration date is earlier than 28 days, use this date as the expiration date.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      
If not immediately drawn and administered, syringes with medication are labeled.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      
Rubber septums are wiped with alcohol wipes before access.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      
IV access ports are wiped with alcohol wipes before access.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      
Medications for the current patient and from single-dose vials are the only medications drawn in patient-care areas. Medications for other patients are not accessed or stored after access in this area.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      
Medications/syringes on the sterile field are labeled, including any fluids.
Yes ❑ No ❑
      

Related Articles