Lovenox

Hey Ya'll,

Quick question...when administering Lovenox, SC, do you hold the pinch while administering, or release the pinch, then administer? Any tips appreciated. This came up during clin. this wk., 2nd sem. of 4, adn...I've had mixed responses, so I thought I'd ask you pros...thanks,

Kelly

I always keep the skin pinched while giving a SC injection and release it while withdrawing the needle.

Ditto!! Pinch then release.

Pinch, inject, release.

You pinch the skin with a subcutaneous injection to increase the size of the lipid layer. Makes it less likely that the injection goes into a muscle, Letting the pinch go before you inject would be defeating the purpose of doing.it. Cheers, Levin

If you have the spring-loaded syringe, you don't withdraw the needle. You keep pushing until the needle retracts into the syringe. Less bruising that way. These syringes also have a bubble of air in them. You leave the bubble there, and inject it as well. This creates an airlock that keeps the med in the tissue.

Depends on how much fat the pt has on them.

Depends on how much fat the pt has on them.

I was going to say, that if the pt is a fluffy one and has a loose layer of skin, I might even hold the skin taut like when someone is starting an iv, I mean lets face it, there are some pts that you will never reach that muscle layer if you tried. But if they are a normal size then just like everyone else said.

I was going to say, that if the pt is a fluffy one and has a loose layer of skin, I might even hold the skin taut like when someone is starting an iv, I mean lets face it, there are some pts that you will never reach that muscle layer if you tried. But if they are a normal size then just like everyone else said.

I may be reading this wrong, but you don't inject lovenox into the muscle.

I think the poster meant that if someone has ample subcutaneous tissue you don't need to pinch the skin because even without doing so, you won't ever reach the muscle (and therefore can still give the med subcutaneously).

I think the poster meant that if someone has ample subcutaneous tissue you don't need to pinch the skin because even without doing so, you won't ever reach the muscle (and therefore can still give the med subcutaneously).

Ok. Now where's that cup of coffee

thanks everyone! she had adeq. subcu. tissue...it was a preloaded syringe, so thanks for that info as well.

kelly

If you have the spring-loaded syringe, you don't withdraw the needle. You keep pushing until the needle retracts into the syringe. Less bruising that way. These syringes also have a bubble of air in them. You leave the bubble there, and inject it as well. This creates an airlock that keeps the med in the tissue.

From the maker of Lovenox:

•

Activation of the safety system must be done only after removing the needle from the patient's skin.

http://www.lovenox.com/hcp/dosingAdministration/lovenoxSelfAdministration.aspx