Parenteral Medications Overview

Questions and Answers

What is meant by parenteral route of medication administration?

Medications administered by the parenteral route enter body tissues and the circulatory system by injection, which are absorbed more quickly than oral medications.

When are parenteral routes of medication administration used?

When patients are vomiting or cannot swallow, when rapid onset of a medication is needed, and/or when patients are restricted from taking oral fluids.

What are the four routes for parenteral administration?

Subcutaneous injection, Intramuscular injection, Intradermal injection, Intravenous injection.

How does one prevent an infection during an injection?

Prevent contamination of the solution, avoid needle contamination, prepare skin properly, and perform hand hygiene for at least 15 seconds. Signup and view all the answers

Why do needle stick injuries typically occur? What would assist in preventing them?

Recapping needles Signup and view all the answers

What is SESIP?

Engineered sharps injury protection. Signup and view all the answers

What is a syringe? What do Luer-Lok and non-Luer-Lok mean?

A syringe is a single-use, disposable device used to inject medicine; Luer-Lok syringes lock the needle in place, while non-Luer-Lok syringes allow needles to slip onto the tip. Signup and view all the answers

How does one know what size needle to use in the syringe?

Choose the smallest syringe size possible and select needle gauge based on patient size and weight. Signup and view all the answers

What are needles, and what are their three parts?

A needle is a disposable stainless steel object used for puncturing skin; its three parts are the hub, shaft, and bevel. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the bevel tip of a needle always slanted?

The bevel creates a narrow slit that quickly closes after injection to prevent leakage of medication, blood, or serum. Signup and view all the answers

How should one assemble a prefilled syringe?

Place the cartridge into the plastic syringe holder, turn the plunger rod until it clicks, remove the needle guard, and advance the plunger to expel air and excess medication. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ampule?

An ampule is a sealed glass capsule containing a medication typically measured and ready for injection. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Parenteral Medications Overview

Parenteral route involves medication administration directly into body tissues or circulatory system through injection, allowing for quicker absorption than oral medications.
Utilized when patients are unable to swallow, are vomiting, or require rapid medication action; also applicable for those restricted from oral fluids.

Routes of Parenteral Administration

Subcutaneous Injection: Delivers medication into tissues just below the skin.
Intramuscular (IM) Injection: Injects medication deep into muscle body.
Intradermal (ID) Injection: Administers medication into the dermis just under the outer skin layer.
Intravenous (IV) Injection/Infusion: Delivers medication directly into a vein.

Infection Prevention During Injections

Contamination of the solution should be avoided; ampules should not remain open, and medication removal should be prompt.
Use sterile techniques with syringes by preventing needle contact with contaminated surfaces and maintaining cover on syringe tips.
Prepare the injection site properly and use antiseptic techniques with friction in a circular motion to clean the skin.
Perform thorough hand hygiene for at least 15 seconds to minimize microorganism transfer.

Needle Stick Injuries

Primarily caused by recapping needles, mishandling IV lines, or leaving needles unattended.
To prevent, use sharps containers that automatically lock and consider safety syringes with retractable needles.
SESIP (Engineered Sharps Injury Protection) devices are designed to minimize risk.

Syringes and Needles

Syringes are single-use, disposable devices designed for pushing medications into the skin.
Luer-Lok Syringes: Needles are twisted securely onto the syringe to prevent accidental disconnection.
Non-Luer-Lok Syringes: Needles slide onto the tip and do not lock.

Choosing Needle Size

Opt for the smallest suitable syringe size for accuracy; for small doses, use Tuberculin (TB) syringes.
Needle size selection should also take into account patient size and weight; smaller gauge numbers indicate larger needle diameters.
Filter needles should not be used for administration purposes.

Needle Structure

Needles consist of three main parts:
- Hub: Attaches securely to the syringe tip.
- Shaft: Connects the hub to the needle point.
- Bevel: Slanted tip that helps minimize leakage post-injection by creating a narrow slit for medication delivery.

Assembling a Prefilled Syringe

Insert the cartridge barrel first into the plastic syringe holder.
Follow manufacturer instructions to secure the plunger rod by turning it until it clicks.
Remove the needle guard and expel air and excess medication by pushing the plunger.

Ampules

Sealed glass capsules that contain single-dose medications ready for direct injection. They are typically premeasured for convenience in administration.

Description

Explore the various routes of parenteral medication administration, including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, and intravenous injections. This quiz will also cover the importance of infection prevention techniques when administering these medications. Enhance your understanding of how parenteral routes can facilitate rapid medication absorption.