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Question 1

Subcutaneous injections

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Subcutaneous injections how much to give and what are some examples of medications?

Answer 2

Only 0.5 - 1mL can be given via this route. Medications are:

• Growth hormone
• Insulin
• Epinephrine
• Pain relief
• Morphine
• Pethidine

Question 3

Most common site for injection?

Answer 3

Abdomen
Posterior surface of the arms
Anterior surface of the thigh

Question 4

Most common needle used for subcutaneous injection

Answer 4

25 or 27g (gauge) needle

Question 5

Check medication order

Answer 5

• Drug
• Dose
• Route
• Time
• Person
• Reason
• Documentation
• Allergies

Draw up correct amount. No more than 1 mL should be given by this rout

Question 6

Injection process

Answer 6

• Pinch skin flow upwards
• 45 degrees or 90 for klexane
• Inject slowly
• Do not massage

Question 7

Precautions for injections

Answer 7

• Avoid giving medication within 5cm of umbilicus
• Injections should be given at least 2.5cm from previous injection site
• Rotate sites for injection

Question 8

Safety

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

Reasons for administration of medication via injection

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Insulin syringes

Answer 10

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)

Question 11

Needles info

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

Intramuscular Injections

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

Sites for intramuscular injection

Answer 13

Deltoid muscle
Ventrogluteal - site of choice
Vastus lateralis - infants under seven months
Dorso gluteal

Question 14

Intradermal injections

Answer 14

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