Question

When discontinuing a PCA infusion it is acceptable to discard the drug cartridge.

True
False

Answer 1

It is not acceptable to just discard a PCA infusion drug cartridge due to the potent medications contained; proper disposal according to hospital policies and federal regulations is required to prevent risks.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discontinuing a PCA infusion, it is not acceptable to simply discard the drug cartridge. PCA, which stands for Patient-Controlled Analgesia, usually contains potent opioid medications that must be disposed of according to specific hospital policies and federal regulations. Correct disposal methods are critical to ensure that these substances do not pose a risk to others or the environment. These methods may include returning the cartridge to the pharmacy, using drug disposal kits, or other procedures designed to deactivate or safely dispose of the medication.