The patient/client is to receive Piperacillin/tazobactam 1 g IVPB q12h for 7 days. What is the route of administration for this medication?

A. If using a safety syringe with an articulated type sheath, following an injection the nurse should use the thumb to push the sheath over the needle.

This describes the proper one-handed activation technique for hinged safety devices. The nurse should keep the hand behind the needle at all times and use the thumb to flip the safety shield over the needle immediately after withdrawal until it clicks, ensuring the sharp is covered before disposal.

B. If using a safety syringe, the nurse should recap the needle using the "scoop method" in which the fingers do not touch the needle.

Recapping a used (contaminated) needle is a primary cause of needlestick injuries and is generally prohibited by OSHA standards. The "scoop method" is only acceptable for recapping a sterileneedle before use, never after injection.

C. If a safety syringe is not available, the needle can be injected into a special cap, the Point-Loc device, which locks the tip of the needle in place.

While devices exist to secure needles, the safest and recommended practice if a safety syringe is unavailable is to immediately dispose of the uncapped needle into a sharps container. attempting to manipulate the needle into a small device increases the risk of injury.

D. If using a safety syringe, following an injection, the nurse should push in the sheath and twist until it clicks.

Safety mechanisms vary by manufacturer, but "twisting" is rarely a required motion for activation. Most mechanisms rely on a push/slide motion or an automatic retraction. Twisting introduces unnecessary manual manipulation near the sharp tip.

A. Needle:The needle is the hollow, sharp metal part that pierces the skin or vial stopper. It draws fluid into the syringe, but the needle itself does not hold the medication.

B. Plunger:The plunger is the interior rod that is pushed or pulled to move the fluid. It creates the pressure differential, but the plunger itself does not hold the medication.

C. Barrel:The barrel is the hollow, cylindrical part of the syringe that is marked with measurement calibrations (mL, units, etc.) and is the chamber where the medication is held.

D. Tip:The tip is the end of the barrel where the needle is attached. While fluid passes through the tip, it is not the main storage compartment for the medication.