My first injection mistake - new nurse

[Kaylablue]

So please do not judge as I have only been a nurse for 1 MONTH! long story short, I was giving a penicillin shot to a patient but couldn’t give it in the ventrogluteal because the patient had silicone implants. The doctor says “give it in the arm or thigh” so I have it in the arm. This was a 18 GAUGE NEEDLE. 2.4 mU. later I was told it should have been in the thigh so now I’m surprised stressed out. I was just following what the provider verbally  said. I hope it doesn’t cause an injury in the patients arm. Right medication, wrong injection site. THOUGHTS?!!

[PDRN]

Other than an annoyed patient, I'm sure you did no harm. You'd be surprised where we inject in the ER when necessary- pretty much wherever we can if the patient is combative. To cover yourself, document what the provider said to you...or just remember for next time ?

[delrionurse]

Kaylablue said:

So please do not judge as I have only been a nurse for 1 MONTH! long story short, I was giving a penicillin shot to a patient but couldn't give it in the ventrogluteal because the patient had silicone implants. The doctor says "give it in the arm or thigh" so I have it in the arm. This was a 18 GAUGE NEEDLE. 2.4 mU. later I was told it should have been in the thigh so now I'm surprised stressed out. I was just following what the provider verbally  said. I hope it doesn't cause an injury in the patients arm. Right medication, wrong injection site. THOUGHTS?!!

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It's been some time since this was posted, but I did the same thing except it was in the ventro and it was a 19 gauge! I felt horrible.  The pharmacy had sent a 19g to aspirate the medication and NOT for injection purpose which I didn't know. I was new also to giving injections and wasn't familiar with certain gauges. Some people on here will say 'well you should have learned that in nursing school!' but learning on the job is different when you weren't taught hands on in nursing school.  In your situation, maybe the provider didn't' t know the gauge of the needle.