Replacing inner needle cap

[Smiffy1967]

Just got back from a meeting with my DSN where I was issued with a new Novo Echo pen & whilst flicking through the instructions it states that you are not to replace the inner cap as a risk of needle injuries!!

I must admit I always replace the inner cap and the outer cap before disposal into a sharps bin and always have done. Intact when I'm out I wouldn't even dream of placing a used needle back into the little pocket without both the inner and outer caps on.

Made me wonder if I'm being a bit paranoid or OTT but I always feel safer doing it and in 16 years I have never stabbed myself with the used needle!

Just curious to know what the rest of you do

[Pilgrim22]

Hi Smiffy1967, I would never consider trying to put the fiddly little inside cap back on. With my eyesight and arthritis, I would stab myself on a regular basis.

[AMBrennan]

I was told to not replace the needle cap the first time I tried under the watchful eyes of the ICU nurses.

I suppose that it's doable safely - you can stand up the inner needle cap on a flat surface and push down towards the table.

[Margaretann]

been type 1 diabetic for 15 years and I always replace both caps, didnt know any different.

[bethan90]

I always replace the inner cap but I know that you should never resheath a needle. You can get a needle clipping device on prescription from your GP that you clip the needle off, it's really clever but yet another thing to carry around so admittedly I don't use mine.

[Hobs]

I always replace the inner cap but I know that you should never resheath a needle. You can get a needle clipping device on prescription from your GP that you clip the needle off, it's really clever but yet another thing to carry around so admittedly I don't use mine.

I can't see the point (no pun ) of a sharps clipper. The exposed rear end of the pen needle is just as sharp as the body-skin end so no advantage gained.

[noblehead]

Out of habit I always replace the inner cap.

[bethan90]

The advantage is that when you clip the needle, the exposed part of the needle that has been in your skin is now cut away and so there is no danger of you (or more importantly anybody else) getting a needle stick injury.

[dizzyrj]

I dont bother replacing the inner cap as I always loose them. There is more than likely a big stash of them under my desk if I took the time to look.
I mainly use the outer cap to remove or just unscrew it without the outer cap if the sharps bin is next to me

[picklebean]

I've been using a preloaded pen and screw on needles for a little under 20 years and I've ALWAYS replaced the inner needle cap.... it wasn't until I recently started on Victoza and read the instructions with that injection that I realised the advice is to not replace the inner cap.... I had no idea.

I suppose it is safer not to replace it, in terms of not jabbing yourself in the finger --- I've done it a few times and I did once manage to jab the needle underneath my fingernail... BIG OUCH!!

[Ambersilva]

At a recent course for T1s at our clinic we were told to replace the needle after every injection and were shown pictures of the increasing degradation of the needle point after each injection.

[picklebean]

At a recent course for T1s at our clinic we were told to replace the needle after every injection and were shown pictures of the increasing degradation of the needle point after each injection.

I think you misunderstood a little - this thread is talking about putting the little inner needle cap back on the needle once you've used it to inject, not re-using the needle for more than one injection.

I definitely wouldn't recommend re-using needles for more than one injection!

[Ambersilva]

At a recent course for T1s at our clinic we were told to replace the needle after every injection and were shown pictures of the increasing degradation of the needle point after each injection.

I think you misunderstood a little - this thread is talking about putting the little inner needle cap back on the needle once you've used it to inject, not re-using the needle for more than one injection.

I definitely wouldn't recommend re-using needles for more than one injection!

I have not misunderstood anything.

[picklebean]

erm, ok, if you say so.... but this thread isn't about using needles more than once. It's about replacing the needle cap before you dispose of the needle.

[Mileana]

The needle clipper is brilliant in that it clips off and also stores the needles inside itself - I think it will hold about 500 of the thingies. They're 'gone' then. It doesn't drop them on the table again.

However, I never use it, I cap it with the outer cap, the inner one goes in the bin. Occasionally when I am out, I will drop the inner cap into the outer before I use the outer one to unscrew the needle itself - mostly because of all the litter I will otherwise have in my pocket in 'small change'.

-M