Heparin injections ?????

[ProudofmyNursingart]

I have come across a question today as applying for a job on something I have not encountered in my Nursing experience before.

Why do we ONLY give Heparin injections as subcuts????

Pain and bruising is one reason.

How about mucking up half life?

Plus if we inject as an IM, it may enter the blood stream too quick?

I have, like I said, come across this actual question before. I KNOW we give it subcut because that's how we do it. But why?

I'm posting this in the Student section as maybe a bright spark of a student may be able to answer. And if not, they might learn as I will. I hope!

See lovely students. Just because you finish and graduate Nursing school DOESN'T mean you have finished learning.

Thank you to any and all who attempt to answer this question.

[dozndawg]

According to Davis's Drug Guide: "Do not adminster IM because of danger of hematoma formation." And if I were to add to this...If we think about the blood vessels in the muscle (capillaries)...

[CRIMSON]

Agree with above: Davis Drug Guide "do not administer IM d/t risk for hematoma formation". LMWH is SQ only. Old school Heparin can also be IV administration.

[ProudofmyNursingart]

Thank you both.

I thought of both of these, but thought "Maybe there is some other specific reason that Iv'e missed.". But not maybe I didn't.

Thank you both.