Intradermal Injection Quiz: Medication Preparation and Administration

Study Notes

Injection Fundamentals

Injection is the process of putting a liquid, especially a drug, into a person's body using a needle and a syringe.
Parenteral medication is the administration of medication by injection into body tissues.

Routes of Parenteral Medication

There are four routes of giving medication by injection:
- Intradermal (into the dermis layer below the epidermis of the skin)
- Subcutaneous (into the tissue below the dermis layer of the skin)
- Intramuscular (into the body muscle)
- Intravenous (into a vein)

Indications for Parenteral Administration

Injections are usually used when:
- A rapid action is required
- The drug cannot be absorbed by the alimentary tract
- The patient is unable to take the medication orally
- The drug is not available in an oral form

Syringe

A syringe has three parts: the tip (hub), the barrel, and the plunger
There are three main types of syringe: Hypodermic syringe, Tuberculin syringe, and Insulin syringe

Purpose of Injection

To get rapid and systematic effect of the drug
To provide the needed effect when the client is unconscious
To obtain local effect (e.g., xylocaine, tuberculin test)
To restore blood volume by replacing the fluid

Equipment for Injection

Tray
Syringe
Alcohol wipe
Needle
Gauze
Torniquet
Drug (checked)
Prescription chart
Gloves (if necessary)

Preparing Medication from Vial

Flip the plastic cap off
Pull back and fill the syringe with an amount of air equal to the amount of solution you want to draw
Flick the side of the syringe to make air bubbles rise to the top
Push needle through the rubber seal into the vial
Pull back slowly on the plunger to withdraw

Intradermal (ID) Injection

Administration of drug into the dermal layer of the skin just beneath the epidermis
Small amount of liquid is used (e.g., 0.1ml)
Syringe is positioned at 15 angles
Common sites: Inner lower arm, Upper chest, Back beneath the scapula
Indications: Tuberculin injection, Allergy sensitivity tests, Local anesthesia, BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin Vaccine) for tuberculosis
Complications: Pain, Irritant, Swelling, Infection

Procedure for Intradermal Injection

Gather equipment
Wash hands
Explain procedure to the client
Check and prepare the medication
Provide privacy
Select and clean the site of injection
Grasp syringe with dominant hand
Inject the medication
Remove the needle slowly

Subcutaneous (SC) Injection

Administration of medication into the subcutaneous tissue beneath the dermis layer of skin
Used for slow, sustained absorption of medication
Generally, a 2ml syringe is used, and only 0.5 – 1ml of medication is usually injected at 45 angles
Common sites: Outer aspect of the upper arm, Anterior aspect of thigh, Abdomen (2-inch area surrounding the navel), Scapular area of the upper back, Ventrogluteal area, Dorsogluteal area

Procedure for Subcutaneous Injection

Gather equipment
Wash hands
Explain procedure to the client
Check and prepare the medication
Provide privacy
Select and clean the site of injection
Grasp syringe with dominant hand
Lift up a roll of skin and inject the medication
Remove the needle slowly

Intramuscular (IM) Injection

Injection of medication into the body muscles
Intramuscular injection is absorbed more quickly than subcutaneous injection due to the greater blood supply to the body muscles
Generally, a 2-5ml syringe is needed, and the size of the syringe depends on the amount of medication
Angle of 90 degrees should be used
Sites for intramuscular injection: Rectus femoris, Deltoid muscle, Dorsogluteal, Ventrogluteal, Vastus lateralis

Description

Test your knowledge on preparing medication from a vial and administering an intradermal injection. Questions may cover steps like flipping the plastic cap off, filling the syringe with air, and performing the injection correctly.