above gluteal line

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During my clinicals in nursing school (when I was nieve) I accidentally gave a IM above the gluteal line which is the crack of the orifice about one inch above the line. I ended up doing this about six times. When I came back the next week the various clients (LTCF) asked that I give it again and since then I had regular customers who asked for me to give the injection. I checked with my nursing instructor and she said it was ok as there were no nerves in the area. Is this ok? I aspirate as usual but most people repeatedly ask me to give their injections in this area. It seems like there is muscle in the region.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

You need to review the organization's policy on IM injections & comply with those requirements. Crowd-sourcing (even with our wonderful bunch here on AN) should never be the basis for your clinical decisions. FWIW, the safest area for gluteal injections can be found by making an imaginary line from the coccyx to the trachanter... any site above that line will ensure that you avoid the sciatic nerve.

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