HELP! im so nervous. im a new grad, and for some reason, my first flu shot clinic assignment, I WILL BE MYSELF!! i'm sooooooooooooo nervous!!
FLU SHOTS are administered IM, i know this....I definitely need to aspirate right? i am asking because sometimes when I GET THE FLU SHOT, the nurse doesn't aspirate! but i have to right????
and the clinic is giving me 3mL syringe, i know i have to inject the whole needle in there, but what if the patient is really skinny? what then??? ahhh im freaking myself out!!!
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
We are taught now that evidence-based practice has indicated there is no need to aspirate on IMs anymore at all. I don't have a link but can probably get one pretty easily and am happy to if folks want to see the research. Aspirating is no longer standard practice for any IM injection, not just deltoid.
The agency I'm working for only gave me 3mL syringes....so don't put the whole needle in right? I wish Im not by myself tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!
I really think you need to consilt your nursing books and do some research before going into this clinic aone tomorrow. It's a little concerning to me that, as an RN, you aren't sure about IM technique, aren't familiar with the allowed volume to be injected in each site, and are correlating syringe size with needle size. Please do some more studying.
You'll either be using pre-filled syringes or you'll be drawing up the medication yourself. Are you comfortable drawing up medications from a multi-dose vial? Do you know the steps to keep the needle/bottle sterile? Your needle size is likely to be 1 inch. Yes, you need to use the whole needle. 1 inch needle is used even in small children, so you need to inject the needle to the hub regardless of the size of the person. The size of the syringe has nothing to do with the size of the needle. If you try to inject the needle only partially into the muscle, it means that you will be injecting more slowly, which will cause more pain. Remember to use a 90 degree angle and a "dart-like motion" upon injection. Again, please look this up.
Regarding aspiration of IMs, you should ask the company you will be working for what their policy is and adhere to that. I presume you'll be getting some sort of orientation/training before starting on your own anyways..
Same with me - currently in school & taught to aspirate. But it makes sense to me that this practice is being dropped. If I start asking every nurse I meet if they have ever aspirated an IM and found they were accidentally in a blood vessel, I wonder how many decades it would take me (if ever) to find a nurse who actually had this happen.
I was taught to aspirate in school...therefore when I give IM's I ALWAYS aspirate!
As a student, I volunteered at a local flu shot clinic to get some experience. I was so scared giving my first injection - you could literally see my hand shaking as I went to dart the needle in! The patient could tell I was nervous, but then told me he couldn't feel a thing - so that boosted my confidence :) After administering a few injections it became second nature to me! You'll get it with practice. Just remember the steps. For thinner patients, sometimes pinching the skin helps. Go in, but don't go all the way in to the hub if they are really thin because chances are you will hit the bone. If possible, see if you can change the needle from a 1.5 inch to a 1 inch.
EveRose
27 Posts
I was wondering what does the amount the syringe holds have to do with needle size? Can't a 3mL syringe come with different needle lengths?