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Difficulty: EasyPharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

A nurse is preparing to administer 2 mg of intravenous morphine sulfate to a client experiencing acute postoperative pain. The medication is supplied in a glass ampule containing 4 mg/mL. Arrange the following steps for preparing this medication from the ampule in the correct chronological order.

  1. 1Tap the top of the ampule lightly to move all fluid to the bottom.
  2. 2Place a sterile gauze pad or unopened alcohol swab around the ampule neck.
  3. 3Snap the neck of the ampule quickly and firmly away from the body.
  4. 4Attach a filter needle to the syringe.
  5. 5Withdraw the prescribed amount of medication without injecting air.

Answer

The correct chronological sequence is: Tap the top of the ampule, place a gauze pad around the neck, snap the neck away from the body, attach a filter needle, and withdraw the medication.
Safe medication preparation from a glass ampule requires a precise, sequential approach to prevent injury and contamination. The nurse must first ensure all fluid is in the base of the ampule by tapping it. Next, the nurse protects their hands with a gauze pad and snaps the neck away from their body to prevent injury from glass shards. A filter needle must then be attached to the syringe to prevent glass particles from being drawn up. Finally, the medication is withdrawn; unlike a sealed vial, air should not be injected into an open ampule as it is an open system and air pressure will displace the fluid.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Tap the top of the ampule.
Trapped fluid moves from the neck to the base of the ampule.
This ensures the entire volume of medication is accessible for accurate dosing.
2
Place a gauze pad around the ampule neck.
A protective barrier is established.
This step prevents sharps injury from the glass edges during the snapping process.
3
Snap the ampule neck away from the body.
The ampule is safely opened.
Directing the break away from the body ensures glass shards do not fly toward the nurse's face or the sterile field.
4
Attach a filter needle to the syringe.
The syringe is equipped to filter out particulate matter.
Filter needles catch microscopic glass fragments that may have fallen into the medication when the neck was broken.
5
Withdraw the medication.
The correct dose is safely drawn into the syringe.
Injecting air is avoided because the open ampule is not under vacuum; adding air would displace and spill the fluid.

Key Concept

Safe preparation of parenteral medications from a glass ampule
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Topics

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

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