To inject a needle into muscle, you should first displace the skin layer about one centimeter.
Steps for Intramuscular Injection
Here's a breakdown of how to inject a needle into muscle based on the provided reference:
1. Skin Displacement
- Displace the skin: Gently pull the skin about one centimeter away from the injection site. This helps to reduce pain and ensures the medication is deposited into the muscle tissue.
- This is a technique to minimize discomfort during the injection.
2. Needle Insertion
- Hold skin taut: Keep the skin pulled taut while inserting the needle. This helps ensure the needle goes smoothly into the muscle.
- Insert the needle: Insert the needle directly into the muscle at a 90-degree angle.
- The reference does not mention the specific gauge of needle or exact depth, but this part of the process is a standard practice.
- Aspirate: After inserting, pull back slightly on the plunger of the syringe to check for blood. If blood is present, remove the needle and choose another injection site.
- Aspiration is used to ensure that the needle is not in a blood vessel.
3. Medication Administration
- Inject the medication: If no blood is present during aspiration, slowly inject the medication.
4. Needle Withdrawal
- Withdraw the needle: Once the injection is complete, withdraw the needle quickly.
- Ensure a swift and direct motion to minimize discomfort.
- Apply pressure: Gently press on the injection site with a clean cotton ball or gauze.
- The pressure helps prevent bleeding and bruising.
Additional Considerations
- Injection Site: Select an appropriate muscle for injection, such as the deltoid muscle in the upper arm (as mentioned in the referenced video title), or other recommended sites like the vastus lateralis in the thigh, or the ventrogluteal in the hip.
- Choose an area with enough muscle mass and away from any major nerves or blood vessels.
- Sterile Technique: Follow strict aseptic procedures to prevent infection by cleaning the injection site with an alcohol wipe.
- Needle Size: Use the appropriate needle size for the type of medication and the muscle involved.
Summary
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Displace skin ~1cm |
| 2 | Hold skin taut |
| 3 | Insert needle at 90-degree angle |
| 4 | Aspirate |
| 5 | Inject medication (if no blood) |
| 6 | Withdraw needle quickly |
| 7 | Apply pressure to injection site |
