Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 5-3

Removing Medication from an Ampule

Goal:The proper dose of medication will be removed in a sterile

manner, and will be free from glass shards. Comments

1. Gather equipment. Check the medication order against the
   original order in the medical record, according to facility
   policy. Clarify any inconsistencies. Check the patient’s
   chart for allergies.


2. Know the actions, special nursing considerations, safe dose
   ranges, purpose of administration, and adverse effects of
   the medications to be administered. Consider the appropri-
   ateness of the medication for this patient.


3. Perform hand hygiene.


4. Move the medication cart to the outside of the patient’s
   room or prepare for administration in the medication area.


5. Unlock the medication cart or drawer. Enter pass code and
   scan employee identification, if required.
   6.Prepare medications for one patient at a time.


6. Read the CMAR/MAR and select the proper medication
   from the patient’s medication drawer or unit stock.


7. Compare the label with the CMAR/MAR. Check
   expiration dates and perform calculations, if necessary.
   Scan the bar code on the package, if required.


8. Tap the stem of the ampuleor twist your wrist quickly
   while holding the ampule vertically.


9. Wrap a small gauze pad around the neck of the ampule.


10. Use a snapping motion to break off the top of the ampule
    along the scored line at its neck. Always break away from
    your body.


11. Attach filter needle to syringe. Remove the cap from the
    filter needle by pulling it straight off.


12. Withdraw medication in the amount ordered plus a small
    amount more (approximately 30% more). Do not inject
    air into the solution.Use either of the following methods.
    While inserting the filter needle into the ampule, be care-
    ful not to touch the rim.
    a. Insert the tip of the needle into the ampule, which is
    upright on a flat surface, and withdraw fluid into the
    syringe. Touch the plunger at the knob only.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice