[wooh]

If you don't do it much, you're going to forget. After a year and a half out of nursing school, probably a year of nursing school since really even going over it, add little practice because outside of ER or doing vax, IMs aren't all that common... Not surprised she had to ask. I'd be happy she did rather than just going in and sticking willynilly!

[MIA-RN1]

we went over it in school but not much past first or second semester (of four); shots were given when we were able but rarely did anyone get to do an IM. Now where I work I have to give depo, rhogam, and once even steroids. (and infant hepatits occasionally) I hate injections because I don't feel I learned enough about them in school and finding landmarks is very hard for me.

[marilynmom]

BSN program and yes we all learned how to give them, landmarks, etc. We practiced on oranges and hotdogs and those fake skin things and then on real patients. We were tested on it all as well in lab and lecture (amounts, where to give, needles size, etc). We were also expected to study some of this on our own at home and to be proactive in clinicals.

But I can see how easily it would be to forget all that if you haven't been giving the chance or the opportunity in clinicals. Same with ANY skill. I'm going to need to review a few things myself coming off of psych clinicals and xmas break.

[loriangel14]

I am in a rpn couse (5 semesters long) and we were briefly taught where the VG was but told that it is not to be used anymore.One of my classmates had a disagreement with a nurse in clinical placement about doing it( she refused) and our preceptor backed her up.Times are changng everywhere.

[HappyNurse2005]

We learned how our first semester of nursing school. then, we had to be checked off on it every semester since htey knew it was a seldom practiced skill.

where i used to work (cardiology) i gave LOTS of flu and pneumonia vax-though all in the deltoid,a s they were 1mL.
now, i work in labor and delivery, and betamethasone is the most common IM injection. The first time i had to give that gigantic needle in a lady's rear end i might have been more nervous than her! it looked barbaric!

[firstyearstudent]

We were given instruction but seldom get an opportunity to practice IMs (outside of flu clinics). I think one of the issues might be that few IM shots are given in med-surg units any more. Everyone is hooked up to IVs...

[TazziRN]

Thanks, guys!

[tookewlandy]

I am just finishing up my first semester of Nursing school, and we had to learn all of the IM, subQ, intradermal, sites and angles and everything that went along with them. Yes the instructor has told us we might not use them anytime soon or even ever, but as nurses we should know when, where, why and how to give those injections.

[ns lpn]

I learned them and then never had to use them untill the last few years and luckly its only B12 (IM) and insulins (s/c) which I am comfortable with. If I had to use all the different IM sites I would need to go over them first with one of the RN's or the DON. If you don't use them for years then I think you just don't feel comfortable with it.
Also I was taught VG site which is not suppose to be used anymore according to all the new grads.

[Sweetooth EMT-P, RN]

I am a current nursing student and can honestly say that there are students in my program who still have yet to give an IM injection and we are in semester #3 of 4. I am sure there are not a whole lot of them now, but still...