- Properly identify the patient.
- Cleanse the area of the site in a circular motion using alcohol or betadine
as per the agency guidelines. - Pull the skin to one side and hold it.
- Insert the needle at a 90-degree angle.
- Inject the medication as you hold the skin to one side.
- Withdraw the needle.
- Release the skin.
Tips for Minimizing Pain
Receiving medication via injection is a painful process for the patient. However,
you can minimize the discomfort by following these tips:
- Encourage the patient to relax. The more they tense their muscle, the more
the injection hurts. - Replace the needle with a new needle after you withdraw medication from
a vial or if the medication is irritating. - Position the patient on his or her side—with knees flexed if you are using
the ventrogluteal site. Position the patient flat on the abdomen with toes
turned inward if you are using the dorsogluteal site. Use the same tech-
nique if the patient prefers to stand. - Don’t inject into sensitive or hardened tissues.
- Compress tissues at the injection site.
- You can prevent the antiseptic (e.g., alcohol wipe) from clinging to the
needle during the injection by waiting for the antiseptic to dry before
injecting the medication. - Dart the needle to reduce puncture pain.
- Inject the medication slowly.
- Withdraw the needle quickly and straight.
- Use the Z-Track technique.
- Ask the patient to cough on the count of three. Inject the medication when
the patient coughs.
INTRAVENOUS
Intravenous injections are used to provide rapid onset for a medication because the
medication is directly injected into the circulatory system (IV push [IVP]). IVs
can be placed in the cephalic or cubital vein of the arm or the dorsal vein of the
CHAPTER 6 Route of Administration^109