I'm scared to use the ventrogluteal site. HELP

[Psychrn6685]

Hi guys,

please help! I'm terrified of the VG site. I feel like there isn't enough muscle there! Even if I find the landmarks I still feel like I'll be injecting it in the wrong place or I'm gonna hit a bone! Please help me!!! Does it look like there isn't a lot of muscle? Can I do it for pts standing up? I work with psych and they're not compliant. I usually just stick them in the DOrsogluteal if I'm even lucky.

Please --- any advice would be great!

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

What are you shooting them with? When I worked psych it was either Geodon or Ativan and by the time that intervention had to be initiated there was no time for nicely exposing the skin, wipe with alcohol pad, let dry...I have shot them through their clothes (only twice), been on top of them being held down by 6 other staff, alcohol pads and drying time not indicative to situation.

My favorite IM location is the Vastus Lateralis. Everyone has meat there (mostly). It's accessible in extreme situations, and it's a clean shot. I don't do any hip shots; way too much stuff in there. I have done them in the hip but prefer not to. If you're not comfortable doing the shot choose another location.

I worked in an inpatient psych unit so we didn't give monthly/weekly whatevers. They get that at their docs office. Very rarely did we have to give any IMs of regular ER psych meds for the psych patients. Most of the psych patients took their routine psych meds via pills/capsules (that's if they were taking them ).

Remember; if it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

[Psychrn6685]

I'm giving them haldol dec and abilify and invega depot injections. I have a few who are SO EXTREMELY dramatic about " you can't give it here it hurts" I know this sounds mean but I just wanna tell them... MAYBE IF YOU DIDNT EAT FAST FOOD EVERY DAY and weren't 350lbs I could give it somewhere it wouldn't hurt as bad!!!!!!!!!!

Ready to leave nursing .