a QUESTION FOR YOU

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

ginny — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:18:17 GMT

We routinely use 20g needles too.

With regards to recapping needles - the examiner will indicate a safe zone to the student. As the aim is to deal with the needle safely then you can put needle and syringe in safe zone, telling examiner as you do so. Or put the lot in a sharps bin if insulin task.

I went to a CAW practicals for the assessors course few weeks ago - highly recommend it. One of the examiners was there.

Did leave me wondering who thinks these things up.

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

eveleen — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 11:27:33 GMT

Yes, apart from the insulin.

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Stella Skelton RVN — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:21:50 GMT

do you have to swab all tops of vials before putting a needle in them?

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

eveleen — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:32:14 GMT

Just found this topic! I picked the wrong needle for this task in my practicals.. I picked a green needle (21G) which is what we use in practice. So do I need to use the yellow needle (20G)? And is this needle ok to inject the patient? (obviously changing the needle)?

I thought using this large guage needle could damage the top of the injection vial!?

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

StephSVN — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:45:25 GMT

In the examiner training I did a couple of weeks ago there was a needle re-sheathing device (basically a piece of thick foam with holes to put needle cap in) - I wasn't sure how to use it so played it safe and didn't re-sheath. I only knew what it was because it had a bit of paper on the side that said something like 'To safely resheath a needle.........' Think it carried on with full instructions but I didn't read it as I had already decided to not resheath.

Believe it or not - I have dealt with 2 CATS that required a heparinised 20G needle to get a blood sample!! Must add this is definitely not normal practice - cats had a very rare blood disorder resulting in very thick blood due to overproduction of red blood cells and platelets which we were treating under guidance of Cambridge uni. Any smaller needle the blood would just clot in the needle making it impossible to get a sample (their PCVs were often 75-80%!!)

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

SmegSlayer — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:54:27 GMT

[quote user="Phrin SVN"]

the safe resheathing method we have been taught, is to lay the needle cap on the table and secure it by using a pair of artery forceps to hold it. then slide needle into sheath.

i have always done this in my mocks, and will prob do it in my actual pracs, as it just doesn't seem right to be waving an unsheathed needle around, and my brain does not compute that non resheathing is ok lol!

Some of our vets routinely use 20g for clam la etc, and dog jugulars, but we are a mixed practice. in solely small animal practice i have never come accross using 20g needles, and so personally i use a 21g

[/quote]

U wont have artery forceps given for that task (in my past experience). Take the sharps bin with you to the patient and use the bits in the lid of the sharps bin to remove the needle correctly (if the task states that you shouldn't re-sheath the needle).

ALWAYS do what the task asks rather than what you do in practice even if the what the task says is a load of b*****ks

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:47:07 GMT

Now I know it's completely different profession, BUT in the good old NHS we are taught to have sharps bin by your side when performing injections and cannulation. So that sharps are thrown directly into sharps bin after usage.

All though now they are bringing in lots way of drawing up medications, flush, contrast agents where by a needle is not required or only put on at the last minute.

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Phrin Vernon RVN — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:56:32 GMT

the safe resheathing method we have been taught, is to lay the needle cap on the table and secure it by using a pair of artery forceps to hold it. then slide needle into sheath.

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Juliet Drummond DAVN (med) RVN D32/33 — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:31:41 GMT

[quote user="FINNIGAN"]

i will be picking the 20gauge needle tho as this is apparently what they now want!!

[/quote]

i routinely use 20g needles for suspensions like clamoxyl, if giving more than 0.5ml, otherwise it seems to take forever to go in.

i also use them for chunky dog jugular bloods- 5/8 needs won't cut it in fatties lol

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:18:11 GMT

they are are 1", 1.5" and 2"

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

FINNIGAN — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:11:41 GMT

thanks guys uve been a real help, am bricking it already

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Nick Shackleton — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:10:58 GMT

I have seen them used but only in arthroscopy

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Honeybadger — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:08:57 GMT

[quote user="FINNIGAN"]

yea i saw that think ill do the same, rcvs have stated they going to remove the 21g needle so hopefully we wont make that mistake, we dont even have a 20g needle at work, what colour are they???

[/quote]

They are yellow. We do have them but I have never used one!

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Nicola Smith — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:06:50 GMT

Hi as a recent assessor meeting our college was on abut resheathing needles. Ideally dont but if you do lay the top on a table and put it in without holding the top, hope that makes sense!

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

FINNIGAN — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 12:56:49 GMT

yea i saw that think ill do the same, rcvs have stated they going to remove the 21g needle so hopefully we wont make that mistake, we dont even have a 20g needle at work, what colour are they???

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:17:42 GMT

I would not re sheath either, but state why you did not... ie more needle stick injuries are cause by re sheathing.

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Honeybadger — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:11:09 GMT

This is taken from the Clamoxyl LA data sheet:

Shake the vial well before use. Inject by the subcutaneous or intramuscular route (dogs and cats) or the intramuscular route only (sheep), then massage the injection site. (For ease of administration in dogs and cats, needles no finer than 20 gauge should be used). If the volume to be given is greater than 5 ml (sheep) it should be divided and injected into two separate sites. The suspension is not suitable for intravenous or intrathecal administration.

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

Honeybadger — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:08:59 GMT

I'm just going to play it safe and not re sheath any of the needles. That way I cant do anything wrong!

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

FINNIGAN — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:29:54 GMT

crazy, crazy world!!!!!!! sometimes think we avnt got a chance, why cant they sort themselves out!! i will check dates thanks

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

SmegSlayer — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:00:00 GMT

do whatever they want even if its rubbish. i had to inject 6mls of clam la into a quadricep in my mocks.

In my actual exams it stated to NOT resheath the needle so if its changed then...?

in my actual exam i had to inject vetergesic- they gave me 2 bottles one of which was OOD so always remember to chk the dates!

Re: a QUESTION FOR YOU

FINNIGAN — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:51:20 GMT

i will be picking the 20gauge needle tho as this is apparently what they now want!!