IM Injections
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For IM Injections
Outline
Overview
- Purpose
- Some medications need to be administered into muscle tissue
- The site, needle length, and needle size will depend on the volume of medication being administered and the size/age of the patient
Nursing Points
General
- Supplies needed
- Required medication vial
- Appropriate size syringe
- 1 mL
- 3 mL
- 5 ml
- Appropriate size needle
- Alcohol pad
- Band-aid
- Injection sites
- Deltoid
- Vastus Lateralis
- Ventrogluteal
- Needle size
- Infant → ⅝”-1” → 25-27g
- Children → ⅞”-1 ¼” → 22-25g
- Adult → 1” – 1 ½” → 22-25g
- NOTES
- MAX 5 mL volume in adults
- Inject at 90 degree angle
- Aspirate to avoid vascular administration
- Z-track method
- Used for irritant meds
Nursing Concepts
- Steps and Nursing Considerations
- Verify provider order
- ALWAYS follow 5 rights BEFORE preparing medication
- Right Patient
- Right Drug
- Right Dose
- Right Route
- Right Time
- ALWAYS prepare medications at the patient’s bedside
- Gather supplies
- Perform hand hygiene
- Don clean gloves
- Let the patient know what meds they will be receiving
- Draw up medication in appropriate syringe
- Select appropriate site
- Select appropriate needle size and attach needle
- Clean the site with alcohol in circles starting at the center and working outward – LET DRY
- Using thumb and forefinger of non-dominant hand, pull skin taut – or to the side if using Z-track method
- Insert the needle at a 90 degree angle
- Hold the syringe like a dart in your dominant hand
- Use your pointer finger (dominant) to pull back on the plunger slightly
- If you see blood, remove the needle immediately
- If not, proceed
- Inject medication slowly
- Remove needle, release skin
- Apply gentle pressure with gauze
- Apply band-aid to site
- Activate safety and/or dispose of needle in sharps container
- AFTER administration
- Document administration and patient’s response
- If using barcode medication administration
- Scan all meds before preparing
- Confirm administration AFTER giving to patient
- Discard all used supplies
- Remove gloves
- Perform hand hygiene
- For PRN meds, return in 15-30 minutes to evaluate response
Patient Education
- Indication and possible side effect(s) of medication(s)
- Signs to report to nurse or provider
Transcript
In this video, we’re going to look at proper administration technique for intramuscular medication administration. Of course, always follow your 5 rights and calculate the correct volume for administration.
Based on the volume of med and the size of your patient, choose an appropriate site and needle site. Draw up the med in an appropriate syringe and attach the appropriate needle. In this case, we have 2 mL, we’re going to use the patient’s right deltoid, and a 1 inch 23 gauge needle.
Clean the site with alcohol in circles starting at the center and working outward and make sure you let it dry.
We’re going to show you the Z-track method. Uncap you needle. Then, use the thumb and forefinger of your non-dominant hand in the shape of a C and pull the skin to the side.
Now hold the syringe like a dart in you dominant hand and insert the needle at a 90 degree angle.
Use your pointer finger to gently pull back on the plunger. If you don’t see blood right away, you’re good to go.
Inject the medication slowly
Then you’ll remove needle and release the skin – that creates the Z-track to prevent irritant meds from getting to the skin.
Now you can apply gentle pressure with gauze and cover the site with a band-aid.
Activate the safety device on your needle and/or throw the needle directly in the sharps container.
Document administration and monitor the patient for effects of the med!
That’s it! Now, go out and be your best self today. And, as always, happy nursing!
Rina’s NCLEX Study Plan 2026
Concepts Covered:
- Endocrine System
- Studying
- Urinary System
- Tissues and Glands
- Nervous System
- Circulatory System
- Medication Administration
- Hematologic System
- Skeletal System
- Digestive System
- Respiratory System
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Reproductive System
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Basics of Human Biology
- Muscular System
- Sensory System
- Communication
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Basics of NCLEX
- Prenatal Concepts
- Prioritization
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Documentation and Communication
- Delegation
- Community Health Overview
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Test Taking Strategies
- Note Taking
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Behavior
- Concepts of Population Health
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Health & Stress
- Labor and Delivery
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Microbiology
- Depressive Disorders
- Postpartum Care
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Emotions and Motivation
- Growth & Development
- Intelligence and Language
- Psychological Disorders
- State of Consciousness
- Respiratory Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Hematologic Disorders
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Oncologic Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Psychological Emergencies
- Somatoform Disorders
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Preoperative Nursing
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Lower GI Disorders
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Cardiac Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Postoperative Nursing
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Urinary Disorders
- Neurological Emergencies
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Renal Disorders
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- EENT Disorders
- Shock
- Cardiovascular
- Shock
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Gastrointestinal
- Upper GI Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Neurological
- Respiratory
- Hematologic Disorders
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Immunological Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Vascular Disorders
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Newborn Complications
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Neurological Trauma
- Integumentary Important Points
- Multisystem
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
- Fetal Development
- Terminology
- Proteins
- Statistics
- Med Term Basic
- Med Term Whole
- Basics of Mathematics
- Basics of Sociology
- Pregnancy Risks
- Labor Complications
- Newborn Care
- Postpartum Complications
- Understanding Society
- Adult
- Dosage Calculations
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Learning Pharmacology