29/7 Flashcards
Subcutaneous injections
Little blood flow to fatty tissue
Generally absorbed more slowly, sometimes over 24 hours
Takes about 30 minutes for a drug to be absorbed via this rout
Relatively pain free
Subcutaneous injections how much to give and what are some examples of medications?
Only 0.5 - 1mL can be given via this route. Medications are:
- Growth hormone
- Insulin
- Epinephrine
- Pain relief
- Morphine
- Pethidine
Most common site for injection?
Abdomen
Posterior surface of the arms
Anterior surface of the thigh
Most common needle used for subcutaneous injection
25 or 27g (gauge) needle
Check medication order
- Drug
- Dose
- Route
- Time
- Person
- Reason
- Documentation
- Allergies
Draw up correct amount. No more than 1 mL should be given by this rout
Injection process
- Pinch skin flow upwards
- 45 degrees or 90 for klexane
- Inject slowly
- Do not massage
Precautions for injections
- Avoid giving medication within 5cm of umbilicus
- Injections should be given at least 2.5cm from previous injection site
- Rotate sites for injection
Safety
- Always carry needle and syringe in kidney dish to bedside
- Take sharps container to bedside where possible
- Never leave sharps lying around and always place them in a Sharps container
- Never recap a syringe
Reasons for administration of medication via injection
Rapid onset of action
May not be able to be absorbed through the GI tract
May have a condition that makes it unsafe to give orally
Insulin syringes
Insulin syringes are packaged with a needle in place with special markings - 1mL syringe is designed to use with 100 unit strength insulin (usually a very low does, about 0.1 - 0.2 mL)
Needles info
- Needles come in various lengths and gauges
- The gauge is the diameter of the lumen - the larger the number the smaller the gauge
- The length of the needs also varies - a child or thin adult would require a shorter needle
- The tip of the needle is called the bevel and is always slanted
Intramuscular Injections
- Given into the deep muscle tissue 90%
- Muscles are highly vascular - increased rate of absorption (10 - 30 minutes)
- Risk of injecting into a blood vessel - draw back to check for blood before injecting (if blood appears the whole procedure must be recommenced)
- Use a larger gauge needle - 21 - 23 G
- Longer length needle depending on patient size
Sites for intramuscular injection
Deltoid muscle
Ventrogluteal - site of choice
Vastus lateralis - infants under seven months
Dorso gluteal
Intradermal injections
Used for skin testing and TB screening
Medication is very potent - injected where blood supply is limited
very small amount injected, 0.01 - 0.1 mL
Needle inserted at an angle of 5 - 15 degrees
Small gauge needle is used, bevel up
Inner arm and back are common sites
