The nurse prepares an IM injection to administer a medication available in a glass ampule. Which step does the nurse take to administer the injection properly?

Question

a. Labels the ampule with date and time of the first dose
b. Ensures that the cartridge is fully seated into the syringe
c. Cleans the rubber top carefully before in-serting the needle
d. Uses a filter needle to withdraw the con-tents of the ampule

Answer 1

D
An ampule is a glass container for a single dose of medication. The nurse protects the hands to break open the ampule and removes its contents with a syringe and filter needle to prevent aspi-ration of glass fragments. The nurse removes the filter needle and replaces it with a regular needle before administering the medication to the patient. Ampules are not amenable to reuse because they are open to air and thus contamination. The nurse opens an ampule and withdraws the contents into a syringe; a cartridge of medication is a prefilled syringe used with a reusable injection device. Ampules do not have rubber tops.