Intramuscular Injections

An e-learning learning resource pack

An ideal world!!!!!

Administration Of Intramuscular Injections:

Custom & practice: Where’s the evidence?

Intramuscular Injections

• Injections are one of the most frequent used pharmacological interventions

• The importance of safe injection administration cannot be underestimated. Once the medication has been administered via IM it is irretrievable

• The identification of the most appropriate muscle site for each injection is vital in order to ensure that the medication reaches its target area, and to avoid injury/trauma to the person

• Traditionally given into Dorsogluteal muscle, however contemporary evidence suggests that this muscle is not as safe or effective as Ventrogluteal muscle

A simple task? • Which site should I use?• What size of needle should I use?• Should I use an alcohol wipe?• Should I wear gloves?• Should I use Z-track?• What angle should I inject?• How much of the needle do I insert into the skin?• Should I aspirate?• How long should I take to inject medicine?• How long should the needle remain insitu?• What records should I keep?

Project Development• Action Research: Capture current practice

(n=62). No nurse uses VG site!!

• QIS: Ask question

• August 2010: An enquiry to CSMEN

• October 2010: Agreed to support

• A call to arms: HEI, Nursing, Pharmacy, Medicine, CSMEN

Project Development

• First meeting: Jan 21st 2011, April, August…..Dec?

• Literature Review: Best evidence available

• Shared Space

• E-mail, telephone, visits, VC conversations

• 4 modules, guideline & DVD

Project Development• Meeting Dundee with Andrea

• Learning outcomes developed: Clarify what can be achieved

• Assessment: Drive learning & desired learning outcomes met

• Evaluation of pack: Does it work?

• Complete December 2011

• High quality, time flexible, cost effective, fun!!

Intramuscular Injections

Paul Smith

Paulsmith1@nhs.net