Aspirating with SQ injections

[kimmicoobug]

I know, another aspiration question from me, but I do have this question. Here is the scenario. During my last clinicals in med-surg, one of my patients was DM type 2. She received insulin 3 times during my shift. No problem, since I have cared for numerous diabetics and given lots of SQ inj. My instructor, had me aspirate with all of my SQ inj. We were taught to not aspirate in school. I am just curious if my fellow students are taught differently, or if there is current research saying we should now aspirate?

I guess there is not anything necessarily wrong with aspirating with a SQ (except heparinoids, perhaps), but everyone else I have asked about this practice say that they also do not aspirate with a SQ. I was mostly worried that she would dock me on my grade for medication administration safety, but all's well. Now, I am just genuinely curious and will probably do some research on the subject once I leave this site (may be awhile

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[ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN]

nope. I don't aspirate with subQ, and was taught not to, especially with heparin. (don't remember the reasoning for the "especially heparin, but in general, the med isn't going near any blood vessels when given sq, so what's the point?)

[Jenn_RN]

We were just taught on Thursday to NEVER aspirate with Heparin.

[Darlene K.]

I don't aspirate with SubQ.

[sunnygirl272]

nope..don't asp w/SC.

[NurseDixie]

I was taught not to aspirate with SC injections.

[subec]

We were also taught to not aspirate with ANY SQ injection---only IM.

[Sleepyeyes]

....especially not heparin and lovenox.

[Nurse2BinNC]

kimmicoobug, I had this same discussion come up this week in my preceptorship. I have a daughter who is diabetic and takes insulin injections and was taught even before nursing school not to aspirate when giving SQ insulin. When I started nursing school again I was taught not to aspirate with SQ. While in my preceptorship, another nurse was going to give a sq injection and wanted to know if I wanted the experience, so I went to give the injection with her watching. After I had cleansed the skin with the prep, I pinched up the skin to give the injection and she stopped me and said to pull the skin taut before giveing it. (I was a little confused) and then after I had given the shot, when we left the room. She was critiquing my on my performance, she said not to pinch up the skin like I had done, and that SQ injections should be given at a 45 degree angle and should always be aspirated. I was panicking, thinking that I could not have made so many mistakes with something that I do every day 3 - 4 times a day. Lucky for me I had my Nursing fundimentals and my Pharmacology book with me, I looked up SQ injections and read that I had done everything correctly according to both books. I was really upset, I explained to my preceptor exactly what I had done and she said that was the procedure that she would have followed if she had been giving the injection. The other nurses was a seasoned nurse practicing for maybe 20 years or more, I guess maybe she was taught differently when she was learning to do them.

[USA987, MSN, RN, NP]

Don't aspirate with SQ's esp. Heparin...

So I guess I'm in agreement with everyone else!!

[RNonsense]

Agree...I've never even seen anyone aspirate with a s/c!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above. WE were taught not to. Hmmm.

renerian