University of Scranton

Department of Nursing

Nursing 350

Parenteral Medication Administration Laboratory Study Guide


This is a required assignment that must be turned into your clinical instructor.
 
Name  

1.    Complete the following table for subcutaneous injections:
 
 
Possible locations
Needle Sizes
Maximum Fluid Volume
Angle
Skin Manipulation (pinch or spread)
         

2.    When would you aspirate for a subcutaneous injection?
 
 

3.    What can be done to decrease the likelihood of ecchymosis from a subcutaneous heparin injection?
 
 

4.     Where should heparin subcutaneous injections be administered?
 
 

5.    You are about to administer heparin sc when he patient says he already got his shot today.  What is the most appropriate action?
 

6.   Complete the following table for intramuscular injections:
 
 
Location
Deltoid
Vastus lateralis
Dorsogluteal
Ventrogluteal
Anatomical Landmarks        
Needle Size        
Maximum Fluid Volume        
Angle        
Skin Manipulation        

7.    What are measures that can be used to minimize pain from an injection?
 

8.      Describe the technique used in a Z-track injection.
 
 
 

9.   The calibration of tuberculin syringes is in  __________ths.
 
 
 

10.    How would you measure 0.75 cc on a 3 cc syringe? (Go to the lab and ask to see a syringe)
 
 

11.    Upon withdrawing the insulin syringe from a vial, the needle gets bent.  What is the most appropriate action?
 
 

12.    In preparing a medication, the needle touched the outside of the needle cap.  What is the most appropriate action?
 
 
 
 
 
 

13.    A patient is in traction and cannot turn to the side.  What are two other options for site selection besides the dorsogluteal site?
 
 
 
 
 
 

14.    What are potential nursing diagnoses for a patient receiving intramuscular injections?
 
 
 

15.    What does the research literature state about administering intramuscular injections via the Z-track method?
 
 
 

16.     Why is the short-acting insulin withdrawn before long-acting insulin when mixing the two types of insulin?
 
 
 

17.     Should the long-acting insulin be shaken before withdrawal from the vial?
 
 
 

18.      What method should be used for the rotation of insulin injections?
 
 

19.      Why is the side of the finger used for a puncture site for blood glucose monitoring.
 
 
 

20.     When and why is urine measured for ketones? 
 
 



The following questions should be completed after discussion in the laboratory and turned in to your clinical instructor.

21.    You have an order for meperidine 50 mg. and hydroxyzine 25 mg. IM q4h PRN.  Can these two medications be mixed or must they be given in two separate syringes?  How do you find this information?
 
 

22.    When aspirating for an intramuscular injection, blood is drawn into the syringe.  How should this be handled and what should the patient be told?
 
 

23.    After administering an intramuscular injection in the dorsogluteal site, the patient complains of pain down the leg. What should be done and what should the patient be told?
 
 

24.    A nurse is working a facility that does not have a sharps disposal container in each patient room  What should be done to dispose of a syringe and needle in a safe manner?
 

See Craven & Hirnle and the following articles to answer your questions for this laboratory.
Beyea, S. & Nicoll, L.H., (1996).  Back to basics:  Administering IM injections the right way.  American Journal of Nursing, 96(1).  34-35.

Beyea, S. & Nicoll, L.H., (1995). Administration of medications via the intramuscular route and integrated review of the literature and research-based protocol for the procedure.  Applied Nursing Research, 8(1).  23-33.

Nicoll, L.H. & Beyea, S.C. (1996). Subcutaneous administration of insulin in adults: An integrative review of the research.  Online Journal of Knowledge Synthesis for Nursing, 11(3), 1-8.

Beyea, S. C. & Nicoll, L. H. (1996). Subcutaneous administration of heparin: An integrative review of the research. Online Journal of Knowledge Synthesis for Nursing, (Jan 22), 1-6.
 

Copyright © 2001 Margarete Lieb Zalon

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