Administering Intramuscular Injections

1. ADMINISTRATING
INTRAMUSCULAR
INJECTIONS
Margot Young

2. Administrating Intramuscular Injections
• This presentation will review the procedure for administering an
intramuscular injection as discussed by Perry and Potter in Fundamentals
of Nursing 7th edition.
• The intramuscular injection provides faster medication absorption
compared with a subcutaneous injection however, intramuscular
injections are associated with additional risks.

3. Administrating
Intramuscular
Injections
1. Check the accuracy and completeness of
the medication order.
2. Assess the clients medical and medication
history.
3. Assess the client’s history of allergies.
4. Check date of expiration for medication.
5. Observe the verbal and non-verbal
responses toward receiving injections.
6. Assess for contraindications for injection
type such as muscle atrophy, reduced
blood flow, or circulatory shock.
Procedure

4. Administrating
Intramuscular
Injections
7. Aseptically prepare the correct
medication dose from vial. Double check
medication order versus vial label.
8. Take medication to client at right time,
and perform hand hygiene.
9. Close room curtain or door.
10. Identify client using at least two
identifiers. Compare the clients name
and one other identifier on the
medication order with information on
clients identification bracelet. Ask client
to state name if possible.
11. Compare the label of the medication to
the medication order at the clients
bedside.
Procedure (cont.)

5. Administrating
Intramuscular
Injections
12. Explain steps of procedure, and tell client
injection will cause a slight burning or will
sting.
13. Apply clean gloves.
14. Keep sheet or gown draped over body parts
not requiring exposure.
15. Select appropriate injection site and inspect
skin surface for bruising, inflammation, or
edema.
16. Assist client to comfortable position.
17. Locate the site using anatomical landmarks.
18. Cleanse the site with an antiseptic swab.
Apply swab at center of the site, and rotate
outward in a circular direction.
Procedure (cont.)

6. Administrating
Intramuscular
Injections
Site Selection
Four common injection
locations for
intramuscular injections
are:
Ventrogluteal Vastus Lateralis
Deltoid Dorsogluteal

7. Administrating
Intramuscular
Injections
19. Hold swab or gauze between third and
fourth fingers of non-dominant hand.
20. Remove needle cap from needle by
pulling it straight off.
21. Hold syringe between thumb and
forefinger of dominant hand with palm
down.
22. Position the non-dominate hand just
below the site and pull the skin
approximately 3 cm down or laterally to
administer in a Z-Track and hold. With
dominant hand, insert needle at 90-
degree angle into the muscle. Pull back
plunger 5 to 10 seconds. If no blood
appears, inject medicine slowly.
Procedure (cont.)

8. Administrating
Intramuscular
Injections
23. Withdraw needle while applying
alcohol swab or gauze directly over
site.
24. Apply gentle pressure and bandage.
25. Assist client to comfortable position.
Procedure (cont.)
Z-Track Method

9. Administrating
Intramuscular
Injections
26. Discard uncapped needle into proper
receptacle.
27. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
28. Stay with client and observe for any allergic
reactions.
29. Return to room and ask if the client feels any
acute pain, burning, numbness, or tingling at
the injection site.
30. Inspect site for bruising or induration.
31. Observe clients response to medication at
times that correlate with the medications
onset, peak, and duration.
32. Ask client to explain purpose and effects of
medication.
Procedure (cont.)

10. Administrating Intramuscular Injections
Reference List
• Family Practice Notebook. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014,
from
http://www.fpnotebook.com/legacy/ER/Pharm/IntrmsclrInjctn.htm
• Potter, P. A., & Perry, A. G. (2009). Fundamentals of Nursing (7th
ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier Company. p. 745 – 749.
• Z-Track Method | Nursing Crib. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014,
from http://nursingcrib.com/nursing-notes-reviewer/fundamentals-of-
nursing/z-track-method/