Injection Techniques

Question 1

What volume of fluid can be injected subcutaneously?

Answer 1

1-2ml

Question 2

What volume of fluid can be injected IM?

Answer 2

4-5ml

Question 3

What colour of needle is used for subcutaneous injections?

Answer 3

Orange

Question 4

How much of the needle should remain external to the skin when giving injections?

Answer 4

1/4 of the needle

Question 5

What colour of needle is used for IM injections?

Answer 5

Green or blue

Question 6

Most SC injections come in pre-filled syringes. T/F?

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What are the five ‘Rs’ of safe injection administration?

Answer 7

Right patient
Right drug
Right dose
Right time
Right route

Question 8

Does the skin need to be cleaned before injection?

Answer 8

Only if it looks visibly dirty

Question 9

What are the potential complications of an injection?

Answer 9

Infection
Incorrect location of injection 
Pain
Anaphylaxis
Long and short term nerve damage 
Intramuscular haemorrhage
Hitting a blood vessel
Sterile abscess
Lipodystrophy
Build up of drug if areas not rotated

Question 10

Give examples of drugs which are administered SC?

Answer 10

Insulin

Anticoagulants

Question 11

What sites are used for SC injection?

Answer 11

Outer area of arm
Abdomen (below navel)
lateral aspects of thigh

Question 12

Describe how to administered an injection subcutaneously?

Answer 12

Lift up a roll of skin, insert needle at 90 degrees, inject medication with a slow steady pressure, withdraw needle quickly whilst placing a gauze swab over the site
dispose of sharps immediately
Document procedure

Question 13

The needle should be aspirated in IM injections but not in SC injections. T/F?

Answer 13

True

Question 14

What sites are used for IM injections?

Answer 14

Deltoid muscle
Dorsogluteal
Ventrogluteal
Vastus lateralis

Question 15

In which patient group is vests laterals used primarily as an IM injection site?

Answer 15

children

Question 16

What is the name for the technique of IM injection which ensures that the medication does not have an escape route back to the surface?

Answer 16

Z-tracking

Question 17

Describe the procedure for IM injections?

Answer 17

Stretch the skin
Angle the needle at 90 degress
Leave 1/3 needle exposed
For deep IM injections, aspirate and if blood appears withdraw the needle and start again
depress plunger slowly (1ml every 10 seconds)
dispose of sharps in an appropriate container
document procedure