[pagandeva2000]

While in school, some of the professors stated we needed to aspirate, others said 'no'. I admit, I don't do it when it is in the deltoid.

[Babs0512]

I have been a nurse for 16 years, and I've always aspirated before giving an IM injection.

TWICE in my career I aspirated blood back - I remember both times,

FIRST: 100mg Demerol/25mg Vistaril - if I had not aspirated, that would have been given IV. That's a lot of Demerol for the average person in one dose IV

SECOND: I was giving 1g Rochephin mixed with lidocaine IM - again, wouldn't have been good to give that IV.

Twice in 16 years is rare, but better to be safe than sorry.

[VickyRN]

Better safe than sorry. I always aspirate and instruct my students to do so. Potter & Perry still instucts to aspirate beforehand with IM injections.

[Irish Nurse 89]

I've been a nurse for 19 years, and to this day, I still aspirate before giving an IM injection, no matter what site I am using. Aspiration before any intramuscular injection can prevent inadvertent intravascular injection.