Why do you pull back on the plunger of a syringe prior to injecting into a muscle
23 July, 2018 Part 1 of this two-part series on injection techniques describes the evidence base and procedure for administering an intramuscular injection To continue reading this clinical article please log in or subscribe. Subscribe for unlimited access
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Vertisis Custom Pharmacy is invested in the health and wellbeing of our patents and we are happy to offer videos and instructions on how to properly use and administer our products. The video above and the information provided will help you by providing step by step instructions on how to self-administer an intramuscular (IM) injection. Note that these instructions are not a substitute for professional advice from a qualified physician or healthcare provider. An IM, or intramuscular injection, is a shot that delivers medication directly to the vascular muscle through a syringe. An IM injection allows for medication to take effect quicker than sublingual, digestive, or even skin absorptive delivery and it can be easily self-administered at your own convenience. The IM must be injected in one of the four major muscle sites on the body for safe and effective IM injection administration. The four administration sites are:
For self-administration, the thigh is typically the best injection site as it is the easiest to access. Step 1: Gathering and Checking SuppliesBefore beginning, it is important to make sure that you have gathered all necessary supplies. These include:
Next, you will need to check your syringe and needle. A syringe consists of three parts:
When examining the syringe and needle check the package containing the syringe. If open or damaged, discard and choose another. You will also need to check the needle gauge and length. The gauge refers to the diameter of the needle. The larger the gauge number, the smaller the needle diameter will be. The length is measured in inches and is typically dependent on the size of the adult being injected. It is also important to dispose of your syringes and needles correctly. Needles and syringes should not be thrown in general trash, are not recyclable, and are subject to state laws regarding proper disposal. You may receive or need to purchase a hard-plastic container made specifically for used syringes and needles. In a pinch, you can use a soda bottle or some other plastic bottle with a screw lid. Step 2: Preparing the Injection and Injection siteOnce you’ve gathered all your materials, it’s time to choose an injection site. When trying to determine the most suitable injection site, you need to consider both the ease of access and the volume of medication you intend to inject. Some sites cannot handle large volumes, such as the deltoid which can only handle 1-2 cc, while others may be more prone to skin trauma, such as the buttocks. The best site to insert an IM when you are alone is the thigh since it is the easiest to access and see. It also has the capacity to handle larger needle sizes. However, it is always a good idea to switch up the injection sites to prevent any skin irritation and scarring. Keep a log of where on the body you last administered an injection, with date and time. It is now time to begin application of your IM injected medication. Begin by reviewing this checklist to ensure the procedure is done correctly:
Now you can prepare the injection by following these steps:
Step 3: Injecting Your MedicationBefore injecting go through this checklist to makes sure you are prepared.
You are now prepared to inject the medication. Carefully follow the instructions below:
We hope that the video and instructions have been helpful. As always, please check with your healthcare provider before administering any medications. If you have any questions about IM injections or any Vertisis products please give us a call at 1-888-285-5841, or visit us at www.vertisis.com. Vertisis Custom Pharmacy. Your partner in the future of medicine. When giving some injections it is necessary to pull back on the plunger to check for blood this is referred to as?An injection is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as parenteral administration of medication through a skin puncture via a syringe, while aspiration is defined as the pulling back of the plunger of a syringe (for 5–10 seconds) prior to injecting medicine 1– 4.
What happens if you hit a blood vessel during an IM injection?You may feel pain and stiffness in the muscle. When a blood vessel breaks, scar tissue or blood clots can form and if a blood clot starts to wander and reaches the heart or lungs, the consequences can be life-threatening. Injections that hit an artery can be particularly dangerous.
Which of the following is the proper needle position for intramuscular injection?Insert needle at a 90o angle to the skin with a quick thrust. Retain pressure on skin around injection site with thumb and index finger while needle is inserted. Aspiration is not necessary.
What happens if you inject subcutaneous instead of intramuscular?Subcutaneous injections can lead to localised cellulitis, granuloma formation and abscess. The COVID-19 vaccine has shown to have high efficacy if given correctly intramuscularly.
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