Hi guys,I'm confused about the difference between two of our check-offs this week:One is "Demonstrate giving a subcutaneous injection using the following criteria... " and the other says "Demonstrate giving a subcutaneous heparin injection using the following criteria..."I'm not seeing in my reading where it is discussed that the injection would be done differently because it's heparin. Am I missing something very important here? Can you help me out? 0 Likes
Winner Nov 20, 2004 The only thing I can think of is that Heparin SQ's don't get aspirated or rubbed, like other SQ's. ????? 0 Likes
totallytheresa Nov 20, 2004 Maybe because you only give heparin in the abdomen, and you don't aspirate or massage? That's the only thing I can think of. And that's why I love it, since most people have plenty of SQ tissue in their abdomens! Hi guys,I'm confused about the difference between two of our check-offs this week:One is "Demonstrate giving a subcutaneous injection using the following criteria... " and the other says "Demonstrate giving a subcutaneous heparin injection using the following criteria..."I'm not seeing in my reading where it is discussed that the injection would be done differently because it's heparin. Am I missing something very important here? Can you help me out? 0 Likes
EmilyCCRN Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab. Has 6 years experience. Nov 20, 2004 It is not necessary to aspirate during any subQ injections. Since any blood vessel you might hit in the subcutaneous tissue is very small, the blood vessel will break whether you aspirate or inject the medication, so there's no point in aspirating. And we don't massage or rub the injection site during any injection, not just heparin. 0 Likes
RedSox33RN Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S. Nov 20, 2004 I say it's just the abdomen thing also. We don't aspirate, since you're not in muscle, and you shouldn't rub or massage, because that can alter the absorption rate of the med (I know this from when I was on insulin shots, which needs to be absorped at a specific rate, especially the intermediate and longer acting ones). 0 Likes
MistyLou Nov 20, 2004 I second or third the do not aspirate on sub-q injections. We only do Heparin injections in the abdomen as well. Good luck! 0 Likes
klone, MSN, RN Specializes in Women's Health/OB Leadership. Has 15 years experience. Nov 20, 2004 Yep, don't massage the site for a heparin injection.It's not necessary to aspirate for ANY sub-q injection. 0 Likes
NewEnglandRN, RN Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych. Has 4 years experience. Nov 21, 2004 We are taught to aspirate for sub-Q's except for Heparin and Insulin. They are both do not aspirate and do not massage. 0 Likes
All_Smiles_RN Specializes in Cardiology. Nov 21, 2004 I don't know if this is just with my school, but Heparin has to be rounded to hundreths, while everything else gets rounded to tenths when we calculate how much to administer. Also, I think you're supposed to use a tuberculin needle, which would be different than the rest of the subqs. Good luck....Jennifer... 0 Likes
Truly_Blessed Nov 21, 2004 yep, I am w/the other posters...it's usually given in the abdomen, not aspirated, or rubbed after the injection...it causes alot of bruising. 0 Likes
hippienurse Nov 21, 2004 We are taught to always aspirate w/ sub-q, unless it is Heparin or Insulin. I agree with the others that the only difference w/ Heparin is you do not aspirate and you only inject in the abdomen. 0 Likes
RNinRubySlippers, BSN, RN Specializes in Acute Medicine/ Palliative. Nov 21, 2004 yup thats the diff, dont aspirate or massage. Round to the hundreth.have fun! 0 Likes
Jennerizer, ASN, RN Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation. Has 13 years experience. Nov 21, 2004 You don't ever aspirate with sub-q's. Heparin is given in the abdomen at least 2" away from the umbilicus & always at a 90 degree angle. 0 Likes
RainDreamer, BSN, RN Specializes in NICU. Has 13 years experience. Nov 21, 2004 Like the others have said, with heparin you never aspirate, never massage and always give in the abdomen.As far as aspirating with other sub-qs, you need to go with whatever the hospital policy is. Some want you to aspirate for all sub-qs, some don't want you to aspirate. 0 Likes
mariedoreen Specializes in Med-Surg. Has 3 years experience. Nov 21, 2004 Thanks so much you guys! I read all your responses yesterday and they were just what I needed to know. I finally found all the information you gave me this morning when I thought to print out the procedure sheet from my med admin CD. There are so many materials (papers, books, CDs) with the nursing program that I sometimes completely space that I have certain resources in my possession!Thanks again, it is so wonderful to have a place to go for support and information, you're all awesome! 0 Likes
