IM Shots

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I have been giving lots of IM shots for the last 3 weeks. I know that we must taut the skin where we are going to give the injection, question is: why do lots of patients ask to pinch the skin? The patients tell me that it hurts less. Is there any truth to this? Thanks I'm advance!

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Specializes in Little of this... little of that....

Public health nurse here - never been asked to pinch the skin, nor have I ever pinched... the RN who gave me my flu shot the other day flicked me a couple times first, which I found odd - presumably she does this to decrease pain?? who knows.

I don't even really 'taut' the skin - more just brace the area with my opposing hand, and get very few complaints of pain with my technique.

I wonder if previous nurses in your area all followed a certain way (that included pinching) and your clientele has gotten used to it that way or something - I still find the request odd...

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Yes, I read about the flicking technique but I find that a bit unprofessional.

Also, i think you are right, other nurses must be pinching and the clientele has gotten use to it. I don't understand how pinching would make things better. If anything I think it would put the patient at risk of not getting the medication on the muscle. Thanks so much for your advice.

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Specializes in Little of this... little of that....

Yes - by pinching up the skin you very likely will miss the muscle unless you are using a 1.5" needle. That's probably why it hurts less - it's not going in the muscle which does tend to ache a bit!

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Specializes in Critical care.

Since "pinch an inch" is for subq, could they perhaps be getting some SQ injections too and not know the difference?

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