Which action by the nurse best ensures patient safety when administering an intramuscular injection?

Which action by the nurse ensures patient safety when administering an intramuscular injection?

A. Putting on clean gloves before administration
B. Rotating injection sites
C. Aspirating for blood return when administering a vaccine
D. Injecting the medication quickly

Rotating injection sites

Rotating injection sites is important in order to prevent hypertrophy of tissue. Wearing clean gloves will protect the nurse from exposure to bloodborne pathogens, but doing so will not affect patient safety. It is unnecessary to aspirate when giving an IM vaccine. Intramuscular medications must be injected slowly, at a rate no faster than 10 sec/mL.

When preparing an intramuscular injection, what can the nurse do to reduce the patient's risk for infection?

A. Wear clean gloves.
B. Use a 3-mL syringe.
C. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab.
D. Massage the injection site.

Clean the injection site

Cleaning the injection site with an alcohol swab before administering an intramuscular injection will reduce the patient's risk for infection. Wearing clean gloves will protect the nurse from exposure to bloodborne pathogens, but doing so will not reduce the patient's risk for infection. Selecting an appropriate syringe size will not affect the patient's risk for infection. Massaging the site after an injection is not appropriate technique and will not reduce the patient's risk for infection.

Which site is most commonly used for intramuscular injections?

A. Ventrogluteal
B. Abdominal
C. Deltoid
D. Dorsogluteal

Ventrogluteal

The ventrogluteal site is the preferred IM injection site for adults and children, but not for infants and toddlers. The abdomen is used for subcutaneous injections. The deltoid site is an appropriate choice for small volumes, but it is not the preferred site for intramuscular injections. The dorsogluteal site is contraindicated for intramuscular injections.

What can the nurse do to minimize the patient's risk for injury when delivering an intramuscular injection?

A. Instruct the patient to relax.
B. Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle.
C. Pull back on the plunger after inserting the needle.
D. Pull the skin taut at the injection site when inserting the needle.

Pull back on the plunger after inserting the needle.

Pulling back on the plunger will allow the nurse to determine if the needle is in a blood vessel, rather than in muscle tissue. Encouraging the patient to relax may decrease discomfort, but will not reduce the patient's risk for injury. For an intramuscular injection, the needle must be inserted at a 90-degree angle. Pulling the skin taut when inserting the needle will not reduce the patient's risk for injury.

Which action by the nurse helps to ensure that the medication is delivered into the muscle when administering an intramuscular injection?

A. Using a 1-inch needle
B. Inserting the needle at a 45- to 60-degree angle
C. Withdrawing the needle immediately after delivering the medication
D. Aspirating for blood return before injecting the medication

Aspirating for blood return before injecting the medication

Aspirating for blood return ensures that the medication will be delivered into muscle tissue, and not into a blood vessel. Selection of needle length will vary, depending on the age and size of the patient. For an intramuscular injection, the needle must be inserted at a 90-degree angle. To prevent medication from leaking out of the muscle tissue, the needle is left in place for about 10 seconds once the medication has been delivered.

What actions should the nurse perform when administering an IM injection?

Administer the injection using the Z-track method..
Position the ulnar side of the nondominant hand just below the site and pull the skin laterally. ... .
With the dominant hand, inject the needle quickly into the muscle at a 90-degree angle using a steady and smooth motion..

How do you give an intramuscular injection safely?

Hold it firmly about an inch away (2.54 cm) from the muscle. In the other hand, hold the needle at a 90-degree angle and insert it quickly and deeply enough to penetrate your muscle. Inject the medication. If there is no blood in the syringe, push on the plunger to inject the medication slowly into the muscle.

What are the special points to remember during intramuscular injection?

Special Considerations: Older adults and thin patients may only tolerate up to 2 ml in a single injection. Choose a site that is free from pain, infection, abrasions, or necrosis. The dorsogluteal site should be avoided for intramuscular injections.