How many ml for IM injections?

allnurses Guide · Jun 9, 2012

I'm taking my NCLEX in 2 days (yikes!) and I've been using various different books I've borrowed from friends to study. While going through one of them I found a chart that said it is ok to give up to 2ml in the deltoid, 3ml for the ventrogluteal, and 3ml in the vastus lateralis. I feel like I was taught 1ml in the deltoid and 0.5ml for infants in the vastus lateralis. I've already found a few mistakes in this book (it's an older book I guess) so I just wanted to clarify what the current limits for mls for IM injections?

Well, I'm sure you're just a wee bit nervous

First:

I wonder if it is not a particularly good idea to study from too many different prep books.

I would find one that I am comfortable with and try to stick with it.

I think more than one (or two at most) lends to the type of confusion you are experiencing.

Second:

Go for a recent book.

Always.

There is nothing to be gained by studying from an out-dated book.

Things are always changing and what was great technique yesterday may be frowned upon today.

Third:

I would hate for someone to tell you the wrong thing from what you need to know on the NCLEX.

You may get some "real world" answers that won't help you.

Go to the bookstore and pick up the most recent and reputable guide you can find.

Look it up right there in the store.

Grab the book and just sit down and "sample" it (if you can't afford to buy it).

Good luck :)

KaeliF · Jun 9, 2012

Thanks! You're probably right, real world nursing and the NCLEX tend to disagree :)

allnurses Guide · Jun 9, 2012

Thanks! You're probably right, real world nursing and the NCLEX tend to disagree :)

You better believe it!

:uhoh3:

Cheers!

Pets to People · Jun 10, 2012

This has happened a lot to me in the class room where each of our books would say a different range on lab values, injections, etc. We were told to remember them all because they are all correct and each facility where we work will have different labs that use different lab values, so basically know the lowest and the highest overall value from what you've found and you should have no problem answering test questions.

amoLucia · Jun 10, 2012

Hygiene Queen has given excellent, excellent advice (esp item #2). Go with it and good luck!