i need help with injection...

[cksl]

i can't seem to get rid of the air bubble in the syringe, everytime i withdraw the medication. anyone got a good technique to pass on?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

First of all, remember that air is lighter than liquid so it will always rise to the top of the liquid. Since you want the air to go out of the end of the syringe, then you have to make sure the end of the syringe is pointing upward so the air can rise and escape.

This is what I do. After removing the medication from the vial I point the syringe upward. I pull more air into the syringe. Then push the plunger upward. This gives me a chance to adjust the amount of pressure I am applying to the plunger as I push the air out. As I get to the end of the bubble I start to slow down on my pushing. By giving myself some extra air bubble to work with I don't lose any of the medication accidentally in case my first push ends up being too strong and not only the air bubble, but medication explodes out of the syringe. After you do this enough, you will develop a light enough touch so that you will be able to feel just how much pressure is enough to put on the plunger to get that air out.

Something else you can do is to move the plunger of the syringe in and out a couple of times before pulling medication into it. This loosens it up inside the plastic barrel of the syringe. This sometimes improves the mechanical action of the plunger and makes it easier to push the air bubble out nice and smoothly without having any explosive accidents.

The third thing you can do is to draw up more medication than you need and then inject out for discard the air bubble and the overage of medication while pointing the syringe upward.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I forgot one of the most basic things. If the air bubble is trapped at the bottom of the syringe, make sure you are holding the syringe securely in one hand with the needle pointed upward. With the other hand sharply snap the nail one of your fingers against the barrel of the syringe until the bubble rises to the top and you can then use the plunger to push it out. The thinner and smaller the air bubble, or the thicker the liquid, the more you have to keep snapping to get the air bubble to rise.

[stnurse2008]

I have problems flicking the syringe with my finger hard enough, so i use the barrel of my pen and give it a good wack and it will usually go up and out.

[sunshineonleith]

I also "prime" the barrel of the syringe like daytonite does. another trick i've found helpful after priming is to ensure that i have the plunger pushed in as far as possible after i inject my air in to the bottle. (or before, if a one-use vial). that way i'm not starting with a little bit of air to begin with. just be careful not to push too hard when you have a safety syringe that deploys when you push hard on the plunger :)

and practice!