I've read a couple of different opinions on aspirating when giving IM injections. In school we were not taught to aspirate. (The only time we were taught to aspirate was when checking placement/contents of g tube.) Now I work in an office and yesterday an MA was with me when I administered a flu shot and freaked because I didn't aspirate. The MA's I work with say that's completely wrong...you always aspirate.
Is this something new (NOT aspirating?)
Here's a link from immunize.org stating that it isn't necessary.
I'm a bit confused as to references that aspirating 'prolongs' the injection.
It's an extra step. How can it not take a teensy bit longer?
I was told that we could stop asipirating, but after hearing about people actually getting a blood return, I might start doing it again. But it does take me longer, and that can be an issue with a screaming, squirming kid.
here is something from the article that i didn't know:
it's not
necessary to change the needle between reconstitution or drawing
the vaccine and administering it unless the needle is
contaminated or bent. modern steel needles are not dulled by
entry into a vaccine vial.
i beg to differ. i worked several occupational health flu clinics this year and at the facility that chose to save money by not purchasing prefilled syringes, i had several bounce back at me (not go in). i changed the needle and stuck the poor souls again. and put more elbow into subsequent injections (ouch).
when doing an IM injection you always aspirate to make sure you are not administering the medication into a blood vessel, vein or artery. An IM injection is specifically suppose to be injected into the muscle, not a blood vessel, vein, or artery.
Umm.........aren't veins and arteries blood vessels?
Sorry, I couldn't resist! Just teasing!
It's an extra step. How can it not take a teensy bit longer?
I was told that we could stop asipirating, but after hearing about people actually getting a blood return, I might start doing it again. But it does take me longer, and that can be an issue with a screaming, squirming kid.
So it takes a teensy bit longer.......trust me, the pt is NOT going to notice the 1/4 second it's going to take to aspirate! Screaming kids are going to scream no matter how long it takes to give an injection, and squirming kids can be immoblized easily......YES, by one person!
It's an extra step. How can it not take a teensy bit longer?
I was told that we could stop asipirating, but after hearing about people actually getting a blood return, I might start doing it again. But it does take me longer, and that can be an issue with a screaming, squirming kid.
I doubt the extra time it takes to aspirate before injecting could even be measured; perhaps it's just because I've been doing so for so long, but it's all done in one smooth step.
Graduated less than 2 years ago from a very intense skills heavy program. Always taught to aspirate-have had two bad IM in last two years. Wouldn't know if I didn't aspirate.
Also, agree with no buttocks IM injections. Have heard over and over, may be the cause of the increase in sciatica seen in the 30-50 group. Who knows, just don't take chances. Use Vastus Lateralis...good enough for babies....good enough for everyone else.
In school we were told that it was our preference to aspirate or not.
But (here comes a dumb question I never thought to ask) what do you do if you aspirate and get blood? Do you readjust your needle or remove and use a new needle or remove and use a new everything?
Specializes in Recovery (PACU)-11 yrs, General-13yrs.
I was also taught to aspirate for IM injections.
The LPN just looked at me with a confused expression and said something like "We were never taught to aspirate in school because the instructors said the chances of hitting a blood vessel aren't that great"
I was taught to aspirate, and had a real life lesson as to why it's a good idea;
At the dentist, trying to be comfortable & relaxed, had my usual dose of LA with adrenaline then-palpitations, breathlessness and crying-so guess where that adrenaline went? (no, that is not my normal reaction to being at the dentist!) Luckily I was a good few years younger, no cardiac problems, and in the back of my head I knew what was happening, but for the few minutes it lasted it was quite frightening, both for me and the dentist.
So the chances may not be "all that great" but it does happen.
It is good to hear the latest that we do not have to aspirate.
However,I have to smile at the comment that some don't do it because it takes too much time.
I heard that about counting apical pulse for one minute when giving dig. and tons of other "time savers"
People are not realistic about how much time they are saving sometimes. It takes less than one second to asprerate for an IM injection. I know I have been doing it regularly. I wonder if there is any harm in aspirating. I ask this because I noted a poster who said she has hit a blood vessel. Though I never have there is always a first time.
.thumb.jpg.755b83f43c9f3860c778e2fcb2022ecb.jpg){kind=small}
*ac*
514 Posts
It's an extra step. How can it not take a teensy bit longer?
I was told that we could stop asipirating, but after hearing about people actually getting a blood return, I might start doing it again. But it does take me longer, and that can be an issue with a screaming, squirming kid.