Intramuscular Refusal Policy

[ChadJason]

Hello,

My employer has given me the assignment of working with our State Licensing Representive to clarify our company's policy on delivering an Intramuscular Injection.

The Licenser has stated that nurses must approach a patient three times and the patient must decline the medication three times before we can docuement as a 'Refusal'. If the patient accepts the IM injection on the first prompt we are to draw up the medication. If the patient then declines the medication (after the medication has been drawn up into the syringe) the medication must be discarded with no further approaches.

I would like to know if anyone has a policy that clarifies how to handle IM refusals. What do you do with a medication that has already been drawn up into a syringe. Do any of your policies allow you to re-cap the needle and re-approach? If so does your policy indicate where to store the syringe while you are waiting to re-approach? Does your policy state how long the medication can be stored?

Thank you!

ChadJason from Grand Rapids Mi