7.3.5: Reconstituting Powders
- Page ID
- 89722
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Certain drugs have a short shelf life if manufactured in liquid form, so they are sold in powdered form to be reconstituted just before use. Powdered medications are mixed with a diluent. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when choosing a diluent. Common diluents are sterile saline or sterile water; however, the manufacturer may provide a special diluent that must be used.
Follow these steps to reconstitute a powder drug.
Supplies needed:
- Provider’s order
- Drug reference material
- Vial of sterile powder
- Vial of diluent
- Alcohol wipes
- 3 mL syringe
- 10 mL syringe
- Two safety needles
- Sharps container
- Marker
- Gloves
- Review the provider’s order and review drug reference material.
- Wash hands and don gloves.
- Select the right medication and check it against the provider’s order.
- Check the expiration date.
- Determine the correct diluent.
- Calculate the dose to be given.
- Assemble the supplies needed.
- Check the medication against the provider’s order.
- Open and assemble the syringes and needles.
- Use the marker to label the 3 mL syringe with the drug name.
- Remove the caps from the vials and clean them with alcohol wipes. Allow to dry.
- Place the powdered medication vial on a firm surface and insert the needle of the 10 mL syringe. Make sure the tip stays out of the powder.
- Pull back on the plunger and withdraw air equal to the amount of diluent that must be added. Pull the needle/syringe out of the stopper.
- Using the syringe with the aspirated air (equal to the amount of diluent needed), insert the needle into the center of the rubber stopper of the diluent vial. Push the air into the vial.
- Use your non-dominant hand to grasp the vial between your middle and index fingers. Keep the syringe unit in the vial, pick up and invert them. Use the other fingers of your non-dominant hand to stabilize the syringe in the vial. Pull down on the plunger and withdraw fluid until there is more diluent than you need in the barrel.
- Use your fingers or a pen to tap the bubbles to the top of the barrel with your dominant hand. Once all the air bubbles are at the top, push the plunger slowly to the correct calibration marking for the ordered dose. Keep the syringe at eye level.
- Remove the vial from the syringe/needle unit.
- Using an alcohol wipe, clean the rubber stopper of the powdered medication vial. With the vial flat on a hard surface, insert the needle into the dried stopper. Push the diluent into the vial. If resistance is met, take your finger off the plunger and allow air to fill the syringe. Gradually push all the diluent into the vial. Withdraw the needle from the vial and dispose of the needle and syringe in the biohazard sharps container.
- Gently mix the vial by rolling it in your palms. Roll the vial until all the powder has dissolved.
- Clean the rubber stopper of the powdered medication vial with an alcohol wipe. Allow the stopper to dry.
- With the second syringe in a vertical position, pull the syringe plunger down. Draw up an amount of air equal to the amount of medication ordered.
- Hold the vial firmly against a flat surface. Insert the needle into the center of the dried rubber stopper. Inject the aspirated air above the fluid in the vial.
- With the palm of your non-dominant hand facing upward, grasp the vial between your middle and index fingers. Keeping the syringe unit in the vial, pick up and invert them. Use the other fingers of your non-dominant hand to stabilize the syringe in the vial.
- With the syringe at eye level, pull the plunger down using your dominant hand. Fill the syringe with more drug than what was ordered.
- With your dominant hand, use either your fingers or a pen to tap the bubbles to the top of the barrel and use the plunger to remove the bubbles and obtain the correct dose.
- Remove the syringe from the vial.
- Use the one-hand scoop technique to cover the needle.
- Check the drug against the provider’s order.
- Maintain the sterility of the medication and the needle throughout the procedure.
- If the drug is in a multidose vial, label the vial with the expiration date, diluent added, and your initials.
- Clean up the work area. Discard the vial(s) in the biohazard waste container.