SECURITY AND CONTROL Preparing medications in advance and storing them in clothing or pockets increases the risk for contamination and errors.

MEDICATION SAFETY

Don't Store Syringes in Your Pockets

Preparing medication products in advance, and then storing and transporting the syringes or vials in your clothing or pockets, violates AORN's 2013 Standards and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology's guidelines. "There's the potential for contamination or spillage," says infection preventionist Gwenda Felizardo, RN, BSN, CIC. "Also, staff may think they don't have to label [drugs] if they're in their pockets." At least one medication error resulting in a life-threatening event has been reported involving an anesthesia provider removing from his pocket and administering a paralytic agent outside of the OR.

There are other issues, too. Besides looking unkempt and unprofessional, you might forget the drugs are there and they could wind up in the laundry, says Sheldon S. Sones, RPh, FASCP, a pharmacy consultant from Newington, Conn. "And if it's a controlled drug, how would you discard of it if you end up with it in the locker room?" asks Mr. Sones. "Plus, there'd be no one to witness the discard. This practice doesn't give the perception of a high level of controlled drug management."

There's also the potential breach of sterility. Drugs drawn in syringes are for immediate use (not more than 1 hour). "Storing syringes in your pockets may provoke breach of that standard," says Mr. Sones. The solution? "The best option continues to be to draw up the medications for immediate use as close to the time of administration as possible," says Mr. Sones. "Why would you draw up syringes and want to have them in your pocket? It's just a convenience."

— Dan O'Connor