Vastus lateralis IM site

[Skwidward]

Where do you stick the needle?

My teacher had us stick a dummy today at the vastus lateralis, delt....etc...sites (IM), but the pad for the vastus lateralis was located on the top of the leg. It was on the top half of the upper leg, at the front and inline with the knee cap. I was thinking to myself, "Isn't that the rectus femoris?" I asked my teacher, but she told me that was right.

I mean, I'm sure the rectus femoris could handle an IM injection, but why call it the vastus laterals "site" at all?

I'm confused....

[Intern67]

Anyone taught to use a "preference" method when it comes to IMs?

My school taught me to go:

1. Vastus Lateralis

2. Gluteus

3. Deltoid

in order of preference...

My skool taught:

For

Others:

1. Ventrogluteal

2. Vastus Lateralis

Gluteal was discouraged altogether.

I have never witnessed a nurse using the ventrogluteal site at work or clinical. My first day at my recent job, the nurses asked me for help finding the ventrogluteal as it is being encouraged as a best practice site.

[jrsmrs]

I have never witnessed a nurse using the ventrogluteal site at work or clinical. My first day at my recent job, the nurses asked me for help finding the ventrogluteal as it is being encouraged as a best practice site.

Yes! Very frustrating when there are no nurses on the clinical floor who can help you landmark a ventral gluteal, and simply say "We never do that, just make a big cross and aim for the top corner and you'll be fine". Ugh! Best practices, people!

[semester1kid]

What they taught us just this past week is to make a 'window' with your two hands - placing one hand (with your index finger and thumb in the shape of an 'L') just below the greater trochanter of femur and and the other hand (with the same 'L' shape) just above the lateral femoral condyle - stick the needle pretty much dead center of that 'window'.

[semester1kid]

My skool taught:

For

Others:

1. Ventrogluteal

2. Vastus Lateralis

Gluteal was discouraged altogether.

I have never witnessed a nurse using the ventrogluteal site at work or clinical. My first day at my recent job, the nurses asked me for help finding the ventrogluteal as it is being encouraged as a best practice site.

Dorsogluteal site was discouraged kind of off the record by our school, but still taught since it's in our text book. This is because of it's proximity to the sciatic nerve as well as the superior gluteal artery. By the way, our text book say that the Deltoid site is also discouraged due to it's proximity to the radial nerve and brachial artery. However, our lab instructors said that's not true - what are your thoughts?

[Intern67]

Dorsogluteal site was discouraged kind of off the record by our school, but still taught since it's in our text book. This is because of it's proximity to the sciatic nerve as well as the superior gluteal artery. By the way, our text book say that the Deltoid site is also discouraged due to it's proximity to the radial nerve and brachial artery. However, our lab instructors said that's not true - what are your thoughts?

They discouraged the dorsogluteal on the record in my program for the reasons you stated. Our text and lab materials never gigged the deltoid for nerve or artery proximity. Just for volume and irritiation issues. I have never tried to z-track a deltoid injection and I don't really want to.

I know I keep getting stuck with flu/hepatitis/tetorifice vaccines in the deltoids. I keep my mouth shut because I have very specific situations where I want to hear the words, "Drop your pants" and the flu clinic ain't one of them.