Aspirating with SQ injections

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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

:rolleyes: )

I'm sure I could look it up, but honestly I am too lazy.... can anyone remind me of the rationale of not aspirating with heparin? I mean, I understand the rationale of not aspirating sq injections anyway, but why "especially" heparin?

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Heparin and lovenox cause bleeding and the tissue should be disturbed as little as possible when giving these. Even swabbing the skin after giving these should be avoided, to help avoid bruising.

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NO...NO....NO....... I was taught never to aspirate SQ... (especially heparin)..... No rubby-rubby either!

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After getting off of this site last night, I did do some research on the subject...mainly to find out about if there was new research out there saying we should now do this. I found that you are not to aspirate with Heparin for the reasons already given, but all of my research has shown that you (still) do not aspirate with SQ. I gave about 6 SQ's during those two days between my two patients and each time she had to tell me to aspirate. She is not necessarily an older nurse. She has only been practicing for 6 years and recently completed her master's program. I really should have asked her about it, but I will never have her as an instructor again, and I guess worried about putting myself on her sh*tlist. Oh, and this instructor didn't make me aspirate with Lovenox, cause I gave two of those on top of my six insulin inj. Well, thanks guys for ansering my questions.

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Interesting...I WAS taught to aspirate SQ (except w/ heparin and insulin)..both as EMT and nursing student.

Checked two of my texts and found this:

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Kozier (5th ed, p. 1326)

6. Infect the medication.

"Aspirate by pulling back on the plunger. If blood appears in the syringe, withdraw the needle, discard the syringe, and prepare a new injection. If blood does not appear, continue to administer the medication."

Further, Kozier notes "...aspiration is contraindicated for administering a heparin injection."

Handbook of Clinical Skills (Springhouse)

-pull back on the plunger slightly to check for blood return.

-Don't aspirate for blood return when giving insulin or heparin. It's not necessary with insulin and may cause a hematoma with heparin.

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I guess it all depends on where (and when) you went to school. LOL

Perhaps there is new research showing that now it is not necessary to aspirate??

regards --

Bill

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Specializes in ICU.

Kimmicoobug (love that :) )

I was going to suggest you check with the hospitals policy and procedure manual. Could be this place has some weird azz policies in place. I know that on more than one occasion, I was taught something one way, only to have policy state something different.

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Specializes in ED staff.

Interesting...I WAS taught to aspirate SQ (except w/ heparin and insulin)..both as EMT and nursing student.

Checked two of my texts and found this:

=============================

Kozier (5th ed, p. 1326)

6. Infect the medication.

INFECT the medication huh? lol :))

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

Nope don't aspirate with SQ injections.

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Originally posted by LilgirlRN

Interesting...I WAS taught to aspirate SQ (except w/ heparin and insulin)..both as EMT and nursing student.

Checked two of my texts and found this:

=============================

Kozier (5th ed, p. 1326)

6. Infect the medication.

INFECT the medication huh? lol :))

LOL...yep...well, I HAVE been told that I have an infectious personality...

Guess this is one of the times when you say...hey, read what I mean, not what I write?????

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