Foundation skills - injection techniques : Page 2

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Foundation skills - injection techniques

Indications for giving injections

Some oral medicines undergo extensive rst pass metabolism by the liver or are not well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in which case alternative routes of administration may be preferable. In other situations patients may be nil by mouth or too unwell to take oral medications. For each medicine required consider the routes of administration available and which is the most appropriate for the clinical setting. For example intravenous opiate analgesia is far quicker acting and less painful to administer than intramuscular opiate injection. Intravenously injected medicine will take effect within a few seconds and large volumes of medicine may be administered over several minutes, for example IV antibiotics. An intramuscular injection will be absorbed within a few minutes but the maximum volume injected at any individual site should be just 4 ml (in the adult). Subcutaneously injected medicine will undergo slow absorption but will continue to have a systemic effect for longer. Small volumes only can be administered via this route. Intradermal injections are intended for local effect only and systemic absorption is slow.

Contraindications
Manufacturer's guidelines with respect to route of administration, dilution, dosage, and infusions should always be adhered to Injections should not be administered through infected or broken skin Take careful note of any previous allergic reactions, hypersensitivity, or other adverse effects by both asking the
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Foundation skills - injection techniques : Page 2

http://learning.bmj.com/learning/modules/flow/JIT.html?execution=e9s2&...

patient and checking their notes. If the patient is allergic to the medication, do not inject the medication

2013 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd

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