Vitamin B12 injections technique

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in L&D, CCNC.

Can someone refer me to a visual aid or teaching plan for a client needing to self-administer Vit B-12 injections? Are there special considerations for technique other than it needs to be IM? The patient has a complicated case of chronic neuroborreliosis.

Thanks

in my experience, the nurse gives vitamin B12 (it isn't something that was taught to the patient, as insulin self-admin would be taught)

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

u1989* one topic: self-injection teaching

your health - intramuscular injection (self-injection)

guidelines for administration of medicines through intramuscular ...

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I would certainly ask the patient if someone can do it for them! It is a dart to the 'butt' so to speak...best done by someone that can get a good shot at it then the patient! If not..can the pt go into a clinic just to have the shot? I know of many clinics that have folks come in for shots and not have to see the MD but the RN free of charge for such things!

Specializes in Utilization Management.

I'm not entirely sure about this, but isn't B-12 one of the Z-track injections?

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Yep angio! Total z! So best be done by someone else than pt! How can you hold the glute or ventral glute and do Z? I know what I am doing and couldn't on myself!

Best to have someone else do it! I mean...I have a nice large glute (LOL!!!!!1) and well...I couldn't do it! And frankly..I have room to work with! Someone like me may try and fail..someone with less of a..ummmmmmmm...target? (LOL) no way!

Specializes in Emergency.

Ok, dumb student question here, why does it need to be done in the glute? Glute = IM right? Why can't the patient do it in their thigh?

Specializes in CMSRN.

I am a student and I am asking the same question as Stacey.

A friend of mine does self-admin b-12 shots in the thigh.

Was she not supposed to do the B-12 in her thigh much less at home?

The vastus lateralis is an appropritate IM site.

we do B12 all the time in home health,,, given in the deltoid, and yes we teach patients to give their own B12 using then thigh,,,, homehealth is a different world

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