ADMINISTERING INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION

Equipment:
1. MAR (medication administration record) or computer printout
2. Sterile medication (usually provided in an ampule or vial)
3. Syringe 3 cc or 5cc and needle size of 20 – 22 gauge
4. Antiseptic swabs, sterile water, cotton balls, waste receptacle,
5. Disposable gloves

1. Identify the client. Check the armband and let the client state his/ her name. And check the MAR.
- To accurately identify if he/ she is the right patient for the specific procedure

2. Introduce yourself and explain to the client what you are going to do, why it is necessary, and how
he/she can cooperate. Explain the purpose of the medication and how it will help, using language
that the client can understand. Include relevant information about effects of the medication.
- Explaining the purpose of the procedure to the client and giving correct information about it
reduces client’s anxiety and enhances cooperation.
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3. Prepare the equipment needle
- To make sure that all the materials needed for the procedure are all available

4. Wash hands
- Reduces transmission of microorganism

5. Provide privacy.
- To protect patient’s integrity and to provide a secure environment for patients where they
receive medical care.

6. . Assess:
➢ Client allergies to medication(s).
➢ Specific drug action, side effects, and adverse reactions.
➢ Client’s knowledge of and learning needs about the medication.
➢ Tissue integrity of the selected site.
➢ Client’s age and weight, to determine site and needle size.
➢ Client’s ability or willingness to cooperate

- To prevent the occurrence of hypersensitivity reaction or anaphylactic shock. To reduce

client’s anxiety and enhances cooperation. To prevent further trauma to the body tissues

7. Determine: Whether the size of the muscle is appropriate to the amount of medication to be
injected.
- To prevent damage/ trauma to the muscle tissue.

8. Check the label on the medication carefully against the MAR to make sure that the correct
medication is being prepared.
- To avoid medication errors. And to ensure again that right medication is being prepared for
the client.

9. Follow the “three checks” for administering the medication and dose. Read the label on the
medication:
➢ When it is taken from the medication cart.
➢ Before withdrawing the medication.
➢ After withdrawing the medication.
10. Confirm that the dose is correct
- To avoid medication errors. And to ensure again that right medication is being prepared for
the client.

Prepare the medication from the ampule or vial for drug withdrawal.

11. Whenever feasible, change the needle on the syringe before the injection.
- To avoid cross contamination and to make sure that the tip of the needle is sharp enough to
pass through the skin.

12. Invert the syringe needle uppermost and expel all excess air.
- To ensure correct dosage of medication and to prevent injection of air into the muscle.

13. Prepare the client. Check again the client’s identification band.

14. Assist the client to a supine, lateral, prone, or sitting position, depending on the chosen site.
- To promote relaxation and to reduces anxiety

15. Obtain assistance in holding an uncooperative client

16. Select a site free of skin lesions, tenderness, swelling, hardness, or localized inflammation, and one
that has not been used frequently.
- To promote proper drug absorption when injected into health tissues.

17. If injections are to be frequent, alternate sites. Avoid using the same site twice in a row.
- To promote proper drug absorption when injected into health tissues. And to prevent
trauma to the muscle tissues

18. Locate the exact site for the injection

19. Put on clean gloves.

- To prevent contact with blood or body fluids.

20. Clean the site with an antiseptic swab. Using a circular motion, start at the center and move
outward about 5 cm (2 in).
- To remove the surface microorganism

21. Transfer and hold the swab between the third and fourth fingers of your nondominant hand in
readiness for needle withdrawal or position the swab on the client’s skin above the intended site.
Allow skin to dry prior to injecting medication.

22. If using a prefilled unit–dose medication, take caution to avoid dripping medication on the needle
prior to injection.
- To give correct dosage of medication

23. Holding the syringe between the thumb and forefinger, pierce the skin quickly and smoothly at a
90-degree angle, and insert the needle into the muscle
- To ensure insertion of the needle to the muscle tissue to decrease risk of accidental
contamination of the needle.
24. Hold the barrel of the syringe steady with your nondominant hand, and aspirate by pulling back on
the plunger with your dominant hand. Aspirate for 5 to 10 seconds. If blood appears in the syringe,
withdraw the needle, discard the syringe, and prepare a new injection.
- To ensure that the medication is injected into the muscle tissue. If blood appears upon
aspirating this means that you had hit the vein and need to repeat the procedure.

25. If blood does not appear, inject the medication steadily and slowly (approximately 10 seconds per
milliliter) while holding the syringe steady.
- Indicate that the needle has entered the muscle and to attain proper drug absorption.

26. After injection, wait 10 seconds.

- To maintain proper drug absorption and avoid medication spill.

27. Withdraw the needle smoothly at the same angle of insertion.

- To prevent damage/ trauma to the muscle tissue

28. Apply gentle pressure at the site with a dry sponge. Do not massage the site.
- To prevent bleeding to the injected site and To prevent spreading of medication beyond the
point of injection.

29. If bleeding occurs, apply pressure with a dry sterile gauze until it stops.
- To minimize and stop the bleeding

30. Discard the uncapped needle and attached syringe into the proper receptacle
- To prevent needle prick.

31. Remove gloves and Wash hands.

- To reduce the spread of microorganism

32. Document all relevant information.

➢ Include the time of administration, drug name, dose, route, and the client’s reactions.
- Provides a written description of the injection site. Relay all information to the attending
physician.
- Take note also of the time and date the medication was administered. And observe again
the client for signs of distress after giving the medication. 33. Assess effectiveness of the
medication at the time it is expected to act. Re-assess the client 30 minutes after giving the
medication, check for any untoward signs of discomfort, respiratory distress and etc

33. Assess effectiveness of the medication at the time it is expected to act.