Route Roulette
This injection route places medication into the dermal layer just below the epidermis.
What is intradermal (ID)?
A label such as 1 mL or 3 mL describes this part of the injection equipment.
What is syringe size or capacity?
Name one common adult SUBQ injection site.
What is the abdomen, upper arm, or anterior thigh?
After cleansing an injection site with an alcohol wipe, what should happen before the needle is inserted?
Allow the site to air-dry.
Using simulation supplies, show the insertion angle for an ID injection.
15°
This injection route places medication into the loose connective tissue between the dermis and the muscle.
What is subcutaneous (SUBQ/SQ)?
Measurements such as 1 inch or 1 1/2 inches describe this needle feature.
What is needle length?
Name one adult IM injection site.
What is the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, ventrogluteal, or deltoid site?
Should a used needle routinely be recapped before disposal?
No. Activate the safety device and dispose of it in the appropriate sharps container.
Using simulation supplies, show the insertion-angle range for a SubQ injection.
45–90°
This injection route deposits medication deep into muscle tissue.
What is intramuscular (IM)?
Numbers such as 23G or 28G describe this needle feature.
What is needle gauge?
What is the maximum volume for an adult deltoid IM injection?
What is 1 mL?
After giving a parenteral medication, what should the nurse do in addition to documenting the administration?
Observe and evaluate the patient’s response to the medication.
Using simulation supplies, show the insertion angle for an IM injection.
90°
This is the usual volume for an intradermal injection.
What is 0.1 mL?
Name the common needle length and gauge range for a SubQ injection.
What are 3/8–5/8 inch and 25–29G?
What is the usual volume range for an IM injection at one site?
What is 0.5–3 mL?
Name one action that can help improve patient comfort during an injection.
Examples: explain the procedure, position appropriately, promote muscle relaxation, allow the alcohol to dry, or provide reassurance.
Using the equipment, identify syringe capacity, needle length, and needle gauge.
Capacity = amount the barrel holds; length = how long the needle is; gauge = needle diameter/thickness.
Put these routes in order from most superficial to deepest: IM, ID, SUBQ.
What is ID → SubQ → IM?
Name the common needle length and gauge range for an IM injection.
What are 1–1 1/2 inches and 20–23G?
FIND THE RISK: Why is correct IM site selection important?
To help avoid nerve or blood-vessel injury. Improper technique can also cause hematoma or pain.
FIND TWO ERRORS: A nurse recaps a used needle, leaves it on the table, and walks away without evaluating the patient’s response.
Any two: recapping the used needle, failing to dispose of it in a sharps container, or failing to evaluate the patient’s response.
Landmark either the adult deltoid or ventrogluteal IM site on a model or partner over clothing. No injection.
Deltoid: acromion, then 2–3 fingerbreadths down to the thickest muscle area. Ventrogluteal: use the greater trochanter, anterior superior iliac spine, and iliac crest to identify the center of the V.