Parenteral Medications Overview

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.