LEC 7: Parenteral Administration

Question 1

What is a parenteral administration?

Answer 1

Injection into muscle tissues

Question 2

What are the types of parenteral administration?

Answer 2

• Subcutaneous (Subcut)
• Hypodermocylysis (Subcut)
• Intradernal
• Intramuscualr (IM)
• Intravenous (IV)

Question 3

What are the advantages of parenteral administration?

Answer 3

• Fast absorption avoids the 1st effect
• Goes directly to the blood stream
• Patients who can’t swallow

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of parenteral administration?

Answer 4

• Painful
• Risk for infection
• Increased risk of toxicity/ overdose
• Not as easy to give themselves
• Skin reaction
• Can’t take it back
• More potential for complications
• More expensive

Question 5

What are the needle size, length, and gauge for subcutaneous injections?

Answer 5

• Syringe size: 1 to 3 mL
• Volume of medicationL 0.5 to 1 mL
• Gauge: 25 to 27g
• Length: 1 to 1.6 cm (1/2” to 5/8”)

Question 6

What are the needle size, length, and gauge for insulin syringes (subcutaneous injections)?

Answer 6

• Syringe size: 0.3, 0.5, or 1 mL
• Gauge: 28 to 31g
• Length: 1 to 1.6 cm (1/2” to 5/8”)

Question 7

What are the needle size, length, and gauge for intramuscular injections?

Answer 7

Syringe size: 3 mL

• Volume of medication: 3 mL max
• Gauge: 21 to 22g; average is 22g
• Length: 2.5 to 7.5 cm (1 to 3”); average is 3.8 cm (1.5”)

Question 8

Parenteral Route: Ampule

Answer 8

• Glass container
• Single sterile dose of drug
• Use a filter needle for ampule glass containers’ prevents glass from being drawn up in syringe

Question 9

Parenteral Route: Vial

Answer 9

• Glass or plastic container with sealed rubber top
• Medication in container kept sterile
• Single dose or multi-dose vial

Question 10

What do you need to do when withdrawing medication from a vial?

Answer 10

Need to inject same amount of air to equalize the pressure in the vial

Question 11

Mixing Medications Parenterally

Answer 11

• Determine compatibility of the medications
• Do not contaminate one medication with another
• Ensure the final dose is accurate
• Maintain aseptic technique

Question 12

What are things to consider when administering injections?

Answer 12

• Know volume of medication to administer
• Know the medication’s chgracterirst and viscosity
• Know the locations of structures underlying the injections sites (nerve, bones)

*Thick drug means larger diameter needed needed

Question 13

How do you minimize discomfort when administering injections?

Answer 13

• Numb area
• Relax arm
• Distraction, get the patient to look away
• Breathing
• Count to 3 and inject on 2
• Smallest needle possible
• Client is comfortable
• Insert needle quickly
• Confidence
• Hold syringe steady
• Use anatomical landmarks

Question 14

When do you not want to inject the medication?

Answer 14

If the skin is:

• Red
• Has a rash
• Edema
• Brusing

Question 15

Do you want to use the same site of injection every time?

Answer 15

No, want to rotate the site of injection

- 2.5 cm away from last injection

Question 16

How do you prepare the skin?

Answer 16

• Clean with soap and water if visibly solid
• Clean with alcohol swab
• Clean in a circular motion from center outwards
• Site needs to be dry prior to injection