Correct way to give IM injections?

[Black Jade]

What 's the correct way to give IM injections such as Flu vaccines? In my Medical Assistant and Nursing Program I was taught to give it one hand and give it quick after aspirating. However, I've seen some of my Medical Assistants and on TV (news) giving their IM injections very slowly and using two hands. Am I doing it wrong?:uhoh21:

[DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP]

The 'correct' way to do it:

Follow the policy/procedure at your facility. "When in Rome....."

[Blondie24]

Actually, that is the way it is taught. Not necessarily the way it is done in the "real world"

Yes, I am in nursing school and we were taught to Z track every med. It overkill, yes maybe it is, but does it

harm the patient if every IM med is Z track? No.

Theory vs. real world practice doesn't all match up.

[CASTLEGATES]

Whenever I have questions like these, I look it up in a RECENT nursing text book and be done with it.

They show you clearly what to do and why and different methods. Clinical experience should always comply with the text. It is highly unlikely a text that has gone through the scrutiny of being published has an error for something so simple. Even I give bad advice and one clinical instructor could be wrong. I'd trust a text because they have many people scrutinizing before publishing.

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

Certain medications that stain need z-tracked such as Iron but there is no need per Literature to z-track most other meds. I agree with previous poster - overkill.

Good link may be helpful to you as well as the rest of the site located here

http://www.enotes.com/nursing-encyclopedia/intramuscular-injection

[justiceforjoy]

Yep, with the flu shots...it is dart-like. In and out.

I think we an all agree that they have to be darted in. The "slow" they're referring to is the injection rate of the medication, not the speed at which the needle goes in.

[Katie5]

Yes, I am in nursing school and we were taught to Z track every med. It overkill, yes maybe it is, but does it

harm the patient if every IM med is Z track? No.

Theory vs. real world practice doesn't all match up.

Seriously?

[afjgnp]

I am a nursing lab instructor. The ATI videos the student's watch say EVERY IM is to be given Z-track. Does anyone know the EBP behind it? Seems like overkill to me and I have seen some students forget the order of the steps(i.e they insert the needle THEN displace the skin ripping the underlying tissue). Wanted to know the reasons....THanks

[klone, MSN, RN]

Per the CDC, flu vaccines do not need to be aspirated

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

I am a nursing lab instructor. The ATI videos the student's watch say EVERY IM is to be given Z-track. Does anyone know the EBP behind it? Seems like overkill to me and I have seen some students forget the order of the steps(i.e they insert the needle THEN displace the skin ripping the underlying tissue). Wanted to know the reasons....THanks

Ouch!