This document provides instructions for withdrawing medication from an ampoule, including the necessary equipment and step-by-step actions with rationales. It outlines tapping the ampoule to move fluid to the bottom chamber, shielding the ampoule neck with gauze, snapping off the top away from the body, withdrawing the medication while maintaining sterile technique, filtering if needed, and properly disposing any unused portions. The rationales emphasize preventing contamination and transmission of microorganisms at each step.

1. Withdrawing
Medication from a Ampoule
Presented By
Mrs.Usha Rani Kandula, MSc(N),
Assistant professor in Adult health nursing, Department of Clinical nursing, Arsi
University, College of health sciences, Asella, Ethiopia, Institutional email:
usharani2020@arsiun.edu.et.

2. Equipment
 Medical administration record (MAR)
 Sterile syringe and needle
 Extra needle of proper gauge and length accord with site
 Ampule of prescribed medication
 Sterile gauze or alcohol swab
 Filter needle ( if necessary)

3. Sl.No Action Rationale
1 Wash your hands. Decreases transmission of
microorganisms.
2 Hold the ampoule and quickly and
lightly tap the top chamber until all fluid
flows into the bottom chamber.
Moves the fluid trapped above the neck of
the
ampoule to the lower chamber of the
ampule.
3 Place a sterile gauze or alcohol wipe
around the neck of the ampoule (Figure
29-14).
Contains the glass fragments and shields
the
nurse’s fingers from the broken ampoule.
4 Firmly grasp the neck of the ampoule
and
quickly snap the top off away from your
body.
Place the ampoule on a flat surface.
Directs shattered glass fragments away
from the nurse’s face and fingers.
Prevents spillage of medication.

6. Sl.No Action Rationale
5 Withdraw the medication from the
ampoule, maintaining sterile technique.
Prevents the transmission of
microorganisms.
Check connection of needle to syringe
by
turning barrel to right while holding
needle
guard.
Ensures an airtight system
Use a filter needle if recommended. Filters out fine glass particles.
Remove needle guard, and hold
syringe in
dominant hand.
Promotes dexterity.
With non dominant hand grasp
ampoule and turn upside down, or
Provides access to medication.

7. Sl.No Action Rationale
Insert the needle into the center of the
ampule; do not allow the needle tip or
shaft
to touch the rim of the ampule.
Prevents contamination of needle tip or
shaft.
Keep needle tip below level of
meniscus
(Figure 29-15).
Prevents air from entering syringe and
fluid
from leaking out while the ampule is
inverted.
Aspirate the medication by gently
pulling on the plunger.
Allows medication to enter the syringe.

8. Sl.No Action Rationale
If air bubbles are aspirated, remove the
needle from the ampoule.
Hold syringe with needle
pointing up and tap sides of the syringe.
Draw back slightly on plunger, and
gently
push the plunger upward to eject air.
Reinsert the needle in the middle of the
ampoule and continue to withdraw the
medication.
Prevents loss of medication from the
ampule caused from air pressure. Moves
air
bubbles above the fluid level in the
syringe.
Pulls medication from needle so only air is
ejected from the syringe.
Remove excess air from the syringe
and check the dosage of medication in
the syringe. Recap.
Allows for accurate measurement of
medication
dose. Prevents contamination of the
needle and
protects the nurse against inadvertent
needle sticks.

9. Sl.No Action Rationale
Discard any unused portion of the
medication,
and dispose of the ampoule top in a
suitable container
after comparing with MAR.
Sterility of a medication is lost in an open
ampoule.
Change needle and properly discard
used needle.
Secure needle to syringe by turning the
barrel to right while holding the needle
guard.
Reduces the risk that the drug will cause
irritation to subcutaneous tissue.
Wash hands. Prevents spread of microorganisms.
Thanking you .