Covid Vaccine

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I’m giving Covid vaccines in our community. I’m looking for tips on deltoid IM injections from other nurses. Many needle phobic people I want to give the least painful shot as possible. Also many frail people with small arms. 

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

The biggest issue that I see (not just with COVID shots) is people pushing the needle in instead of darting it in. If you push it in slowly, you are tearing the tissue instead of piercing it, and it exposes more tissue to the often irritating effects of what is being injected.

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Thanks for your  tip. I have been darting it in.  Any advice for small frail arms?

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

Know your landmarks and avoid injecting into the shoulder joint. Let the rubbing alcohol dry. And skin should be taut. Either spread it out with your non-injecting hand for loose skin or small arms, or bunch it up by grasping the muscle. And definitely dart it in. 

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Thanks so much!

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Specializes in Orthopaedic Surgery/Medical Surgical.

do it a quick and as smooth as possible. practice makes perfect. I was hated for giving out flu shots but after a few tries my patients couldn't believe that they already got the shot.

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Is bunching up the arm a standard of practice for frail or small arms? I’ve seen online that is my a technique that should be used for Covid vaccine. 

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
21 minutes ago, mariaconcetta said:

Is bunching up the arm a standard of practice for frail or small arms? I’ve seen online that is my a technique that should be used for Covid vaccine. 

Helps with small muscle mass individuals. 

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.
51 minutes ago, mariaconcetta said:

Is bunching up the arm a standard of practice for frail or small arms? I’ve seen online that is my a technique that should be used for Covid vaccine. 

It depends on the arm. The person's arm should be relaxed, bunch if you can, but if there is little muscle sometimes spreading the skin out is more effective than bunching. But you want the skin taut. 

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Specializes in CVICU.

Thanks for all the tips!

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
On 3/4/2021 at 3:35 PM, mariaconcetta said:

Thanks for your  tip. I have been darting it in.  Any advice for small frail arms?

There was an item on the news this morning about COVID vaccine clinics locally. They showed 3-4 injections being given, and every one of them was pushed in. I wanted to yell at the television. These are licensed nurses who were supposedly taught how to give injections.

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Thanks for the advice. I've been giving flu shots and other immunizations for a few years, and just learned something new. Also, we get yearly training for flu clinics.

I wonder if the pharmacists and firefighters that are administering vaccinations get this expert training?

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