Heparin Injections

[sweetestgirlinok2002]

Hello to all. My name is Tonya and I'm new to the allnurses.com and I would like to ask a question to pick everyones brain for a minute. I appreciate all responses in advance and thank you for you time. I'm currently in my second semester (Med-Surg) of an associate program in Oklahoma, and while at clinicals I have ran on to several variances of opinions about giving Heparin shots. Personally we were taught to give Heparin sq shots in the abd, not to aspirate, and not to massage. I have read several posts, websites, and books that also confirm what I was taught, but the one thing that I'm having trouble with finding is why do you not aspirate a Heparin sq injection. I'm very analytical and I'm interested in learning why you wouldn't aspirate, and would appreciate all input that you may have. Thanks again and good luck.

P.S. One more question for you... were you also taught to aspirate all injections with the expection of Heparin? and what about Insulin?

[hangnon]

My Dr. told me when I was doing giving myself the shots to do that. You are less likely to bleed if the needle stays in for a little while.

Angie

Exactly. My child is diabetic and we've always been told to do the same with insulin injections, less likely to bleed and leak back out insulin.

I'm not sure why you'd aspirate on any sub-cu injection, as I was always taght it is only necessary with an IM injection.

[Krysten]

Hello to all. My name is Tonya and I'm new to the allnurses.com and I would like to ask a question to pick everyones brain for a minute. I appreciate all responses in advance and thank you for you time. I'm currently in my second semester (Med-Surg) of an associate program in Oklahoma, and while at clinicals I have ran on to several variances of opinions about giving Heparin shots. Personally we were taught to give Heparin sq shots in the abd, not to aspirate, and not to massage. I have read several posts, websites, and books that also confirm what I was taught, but the one thing that I'm having trouble with finding is why do you not aspirate a Heparin sq injection. I'm very analytical and I'm interested in learning why you wouldn't aspirate, and would appreciate all input that you may have. Thanks again and good luck.

P.S. One more question for you... were you also taught to aspirate all injections with the expection of Heparin? and what about Insulin?

When giving a SQ injection you do not need to aspirate because piercing a blood vessel in a SQ ingection is rare, where as a IM you have a greater chance of injecting into a vessel. This goes for both insulin and heparin, no need to aspirate.

[NurseFirst]

Just a suggestion: If you inject heparin slowly it is less likely to bruise the patient. Think of it like an IV push, nice and slow. :)

Yup. 5 seconds to put it in, hold for 5 seconds, remove.

Makes tons of sense to me.

NurseFirst

[inquiringmind]

Hi tonya,

I've been searching the internet for answers why we do not aspirate during heparin and insulin injections and then i was brought to this web site. now i am a registered user and can help my sister more with her studies. Thanks for your question, now I have the answers. Thanks again.

Hello to all. My name is Tonya and I'm new to the allnurses.com and I would like to ask a question to pick everyones brain for a minute. I appreciate all responses in advance and thank you for you time. I'm currently in my second semester (Med-Surg) of an associate program in Oklahoma, and while at clinicals I have ran on to several variances of opinions about giving Heparin shots. Personally we were taught to give Heparin sq shots in the abd, not to aspirate, and not to massage. I have read several posts, websites, and books that also confirm what I was taught, but the one thing that I'm having trouble with finding is why do you not aspirate a Heparin sq injection. I'm very analytical and I'm interested in learning why you wouldn't aspirate, and would appreciate all input that you may have. Thanks again and good luck.

P.S. One more question for you... were you also taught to aspirate all injections with the expection of Heparin? and what about Insulin?

[AussieKylie]

Well I was taught that heparin subcutaneous is just in the subcutaneous tissue, so not many blood vessels there as well the needle is shorter 25 gauge. Unlike Intramuscular injections a longer needle is used 19 - 23 gauge needle which goes into the muscle where it surrounded by blood vessels and the need to aspirate during IMI is to make sure it didnt hit any blood vessels.

However what I am confused on with this topic is that some nurses who may aspirate patients blood during an IMI still use the same needle to inject the drug (as its patient blood not contaminating). Then I have heard and been told by instructors to always get another needle with new drug to administer.

Ideally, once I am qualified I think I would just redo the drug and new needle. It would not be pleasant to the patients eye to see all the blood in the syringe.

:)