Purpose: To administer a medication the patient needs.
Assessment: Assess for allergies, medication action, side effects, adverse reactions, patient’s knowledge of the medication, tissue/site selection, patient’s age and weight, and cooperativeness.
Planning: Gather the medication administration record (MAR), medication, and equipment (syringe, needle, alcohol wipe and gloves).
Implementation:
1. Check the MAR.
2. Check the medication against the MAR.
3. Do the 3 checks (read label when picked up, before withdrawing, and after withdrawing the medication). Confirm correct dose.
4. Organize appropriate equipment.
Performance:
1. Perform infection control protocol (wash hands, don gloves).
2. Prepare the medication. Change needle if possible.
3. Provide privacy for patient.
4. Prepare the patient (introduce yourself, identify patient, and position patient).
5. Provide information about the medication.
6. Select site and clean it.
7. Don clean gloves.
8. Clean site in circular motion with antiseptic wipe.
9. Hold antiseptic wipe in non-dominate hand or place on skin above site.
10. Remove needle cover.
11. Inject medication using Z-track method. Pierce skin quickly at 90-degree angle into muscle. Aspirate for 5 – 10 seconds. If no blood noted, then injection medication slowly and steadily for approximately 10 seconds.
12. Withdraw needle. If blood appears, apply dry sterile gauze with pressure until bleeding stops.
13. Discard needle and syringe into sharps container or activate safety device.
14. Document.
15. Assess effectiveness of the administered medication.
(Berman, Snyder, Kozier, & Erb, 2008)
References Berman, A., Snyder, S. J., Kozier, B., & Erb, G. (2008). Kozier & Erb’s fundamentals of nursing practice: Concepts, process, and practice. (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Parsons, A., & White, J. (2008). Learning from reflection on intramuscular injections. Nursing Standard, 22(17), 35-40. Taylor, C., Lillis, C., Le Mone, P., & Lynn, P. (2008). Fundamentals of nursing: The art and science of nursing care. (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.