Administering Intramuscular Injections


Equipment:
Needles: Commonly range in size from 27 gauge to 16 gauge (how big around the needle is) and from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long.
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Syringes: Syringes vary in size from 1 ml to 60 ml.
Selecting the size depends on the amount of fluid to be used and the medication to be given.
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![]() Selecting the size depends on the amount of fluid to be used and the medication to be given. |
Syringes may be for a specific medication, such as an insulin syringe:![]() |
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Safety syringes provide greater protection against needle stick injuries and come in many different forms: | ![]() |
Drawing up Solutions:
Syringes may come prefilled with a medication or you may have to draw the medication from a vial or ampule.
Withdrawing from an ampule:
- Cleanse neck of ampule
- Cover neck of ampule with a 2x2 gauze
- Snap neck of ampule opening away from your face
- Withdraw all of medication from ampule using a filter needle
- Change needle, then measure ordered dose of medication
Withdrawing from a vial
- Cleanse top of vial
- Draw air into syringe equal to ordered medication dose (optional)
- Insert needle or vial access pin into vial
- Inject air into air
- Withdraw correct dose of medication
Administering the medication
Angle of Administration for IM injections is 90 degrees to the surface of the skin:

