Hello, and ?

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

I will guage the spot on the general anatomy of the person, the medication I am injecting, and sometimes it will come down to what I can reach easily (especially with non-moble patients or pts with very fragile skin).

Anatomy wize I am going for a good muscle! Some people have great delts some don't...some people have great gluts...some don't. Some pts will have a preference so I also ask them! In addition...before I go hit a delt I will assess what it is that person has to do that day because it may hinder or be painful and if they need to do things mainly with their arms..say go back to work or have to hold a child all day...I may apt for a different spot! Also assessing what handed they are with delts.

I use to fear ventral gluts, but made myself overcome that by doing it a lot...now I am a pro! I prefer this area frankly! Deltoid next favorate, but a lot of my elderly pts have little deltoid to work with, or have such fragile skin on the arms I tend to leave that area alone on them (not only for the risk of skin integrety probelms, but boy they bruise up and that causes probelms with sensitive people).

Also...good thing to become familiar with...guages and sizes! I am very good at using what I need and no more than that! People are very different, and I can't see myself hitting a 90 year old 80 lb soaking wet little old lady with a huge 1 1/2 inch needle...LOL (heck with some I have seen I will go straight through to the other side! LOL!)., so that too is something you will get use to with practice! My patients are very confident with my techniques and don't tend to fear me when it comes to injections...in fact, I am requested! LOL!

Knowing your med is good too! If you are giving a toridol...realize OUCH potential..that stuff burns like the dickens and the pain lasts for a day...so choose a spot wizely. There are many meds that burn or sting for a while...know those so you can help your pt overcome it with OTC meds (if indicated) or heat/ice therapy...

Good luck with school and have a blast!

Oh an to answer the question directly...any large muscle that moves (so meds can be absorbed)! LOL!!!!!!!! I am not kidding! Peoples anatomy and conditions dictate what is best, so there is no universal "best" muscle! I mean..if you have a quadrapalegic that has obvious atrophy in extremities..where do you choose??? Or an elderly person with horrible vascularization in their legs and have little muscle in their arms?

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

We were taught that the ventrogluteal site is preferred for volumes >1 ml and the deltoid for volumes of 1 ml or less. The vastus lateralis is the preferred site in babies and infants under one year of age.

The dorsogluteal site is no longer taught in nursing schools (or at least it should not be) because of its proximity to the sciatic nerve and resulting risk for permanent nerve damage.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

Thanks...I totally forgot to mention the volume! LOL!!!!!

sephinroth · Jul 17, 2006

The dorsogluteal site is no longer taught in nursing schools (or at least it should not be) because of its proximity to the sciatic nerve and resulting risk for permanent nerve damage.

yeah, that was mentioned by the 3rd years.

I have a question for all you nurses. Is it okay to be a nurse? I mean, im not sure if i really want to be a nurse, plus i'm a guy. I'm not really the service oriented person,and i'm not good with people. Did you ever have qualms about taking up this course?

Some said that when you get to your internship or on job training, then you'll know. I know its sad to be discouraged by ANATOMY (god i hate this subject <_ but i have been having second thoughts. comments and insights would be appreciated.>

buddiage · Jul 17, 2006

Pick another career. There are 100's to chose from. What inclined you to want to be a nurse? No positives were mentioned in your post. My feeling is that you'd be completely miserable.

Pick a subject area that you like. Go to school and get different classes, and as you learn, something may stand out for you. If you are truly 18, you have some time to decide.