Intramuscular Injections

Question 1

What are the 8 rights of medication administration?

Answer 1

Right medication, right dose, right patient, right time, right route, right response, right reason, and right documentation

Question 2

What is an injection?

Answer 2

Giving medication using a syringe and needle

Question 3

What is the intramuscular (IM) route?

Answer 3

Where the medication is injected into the muscle layer lying beneath the subcutaneous layer of the skin allowing for larger amounts of medication

Question 4

Which site for injection has a faster absorption rate: The IM route or the subcutaneous route

Answer 4

The IM route

Question 5

What is the subcutaneous route for injections

Answer 5

In this type of injection, a short needle is used to inject a drug into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle.

Question 6

What type of needle is used for the IM route?

Answer 6

23G or 21G

Question 7

What do we ask the patient to do to lessen the pain from an IM injection?

Answer 7

Ask the patient to take a deep breath and exhale slowly to relax muscles as the needle is inserted

Question 8

Do you insert the full length of the needle when preforming an IM injection?

Answer 8

No, aim to insert 3/4 of the needle

Question 9

Do you remove the needle slowly or quickly during an IM injection?

Answer 9

quickness reduces discomfort

Question 10

How do we aspirate during an IM injection?

Answer 10

Pull back the plunger to be certain the needle is in the muscle and not in a vein/artery

Question 11

If you see blood during aspiration what do you do?

Answer 11

Withdraw the needle and start again

Question 12

Do we inject medication slowly or quickly during an IM injection?

Answer 12

Slowly to lessen discomfort

Question 13

After you remove the needle during an IM injection what do you do?

Answer 13

Use pressure on a piece of gauze/cotton ball to stop any bleeding and dispose of the needle directly into the sharps container, finally remove gloves and wash hands

Question 14

Define palpate.

Answer 14

the process of examining part of the body by careful feeling with the hands and
fingertips.

Question 15

Define anterior.

Answer 15

describing or relating to the front (ventral) portion of the body or limbs.

Question 16

Define superior

Answer 16

situated uppermost in the body in relation to another structure or surface.

Question 17

why do we use the ventrogluteal site for IM injections?

Answer 17

Because it is relatively free of major nerve and blood vessels, as well as the muscle is large and well defined therefore easy to locate.

Question 18

Would we use the ventrogluteal site with infants

Answer 18

Yes

Question 19

How do we locate the ventrogluteal site for IM injections?

Answer 19

Simply place the palm of your hand over the greater trochanter (hip joint), index finger over the anterior superior iliac tubercule, and middle finger along the posterior iliac crest. Inject
perpendicular into the center of the V formed by the separated fingers.

Question 20

What is the Z Track Method?

Answer 20

A method to prevent leakage and help seal the drug into the muscle

Question 21

How do we do the Z track method?

Answer 21

Using your non dominant hand, pull the skin and subcutaneous tissue 2-3cm sideways, follow normal procedure then when withdrawing release the skin to create a disjointed pathway which locks in the medication.

Question 22

Why are subcutaneous injections given?

Answer 22

Because there is little blood flow to fatty tissue and the injected medication is generally absorbed more slowly, sometimes over 24hours.

Question 23

What are some medications that are given subcutaneously?

Answer 23

Growth hormones, insulin, epinephrine ect

Question 24

What sites should we avoid injecting over?

Answer 24

inflamed, oedematous, scarred or covered by a mole, birthmark or other lesion.

Question 25

Subcutaneous administration of fluids is for what?

Answer 25

Maintenance fluid replacement only

Question 26

Can we administer hypotonic solutions subcutaneously?

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

Can we administer hypertonic solutions subcutaneously?

Answer 27

NO