What do use to mix IM injections?

[guardwife]

Fours years ago I worked for a large Children's Hospital for about seven years. When we had to do IM antibiotic injections we would mix the med with lidocaine. For the past few years I have been working at a small community based hospital in a differant area of the country on a PP WB Nursury. Very rarely do we have to administer IM antibiotics and pharmamcy usually premixes all the meds, but on occasion we do and mix with lidocaine.

The very small pedi floor combined with us and the other day I saw large vials of bacteriostatic normal saline on the floor, which sent up red flags everywhere. The current Nurses brought it over from their last unit because they feel it is gentler than lidocaine for IM inj. I am just nervous for the fact that we are a combined unit and the chance for a mistake especailly in the nursery is huge.

Just wanted to see what people are using to mix their IM injections and do you have any policies.

Thanks I already posted this on the pedi thread, just trying to cover bases.

[slcpicu]

Sorry not much help here. I will respond though. It is very rare to give an IM injection in the PICU. Out of 4 years I can only recall 1 time, Pedi vs car and I gave a tetnus shot. In the PICU, we have lots of lines and iv's and if they have earned a spot in the PICU, then they will probably get IV antbx.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Same here! I've given a handful of tetorifice shots, but nothing else. Oh, maybe Vit K once. We use a lot of sub-cu enoxaparin though.

[pcicurn7]

when i worked in the peds ED, there were some nurses who used lidocaine to lessen the blow. however, it is against our hospital's written policy, so most of the newer staff doesnt do it. i never saw it diluted with saline.

[tryingtohaveitall]

Fours years ago I worked for a large Children's Hospital for about seven years. When we had to do IM antibiotic injections we would mix the med with lidocaine. For the past few years I have been working at a small community based hospital in a differant area of the country on a PP WB Nursury. Very rarely do we have to administer IM antibiotics and pharmamcy usually premixes all the meds, but on occasion we do and mix with lidocaine.

The very small pedi floor combined with us and the other day I saw large vials of bacteriostatic normal saline on the floor, which sent up red flags everywhere. The current Nurses brought it over from their last unit because they feel it is gentler than lidocaine for IM inj. I am just nervous for the fact that we are a combined unit and the chance for a mistake especailly in the nursery is huge.

Just wanted to see what people are using to mix their IM injections and do you have any policies.

Thanks I already posted this on the pedi thread, just trying to cover bases.

You piqued my curiosity, so I went looking to see what actually is recommended to use as a diluent for Rocephin. This site lists NS, sterile water, D5W, and lidocaine. http://www.rxlist.com/rocephin-drug.htm#ids

I did read elsewhere that water diluents seem to be more painful. That makes sense to me. Long ago at a manager meeting, the employee health nurse brought sterile water and saline for managers to practice intradermal injections on each other. Those who received the sterile water said it was extremely painful.

Hope this helps!

[PICURNROCKS]

It depends on the medication. I haven't given an IM in a long time but from what I remember the antibiotics we had came with inserts that told you what you could mix the meds with. Some of them it was a NS, water or lidocaine etc., so you could use whichever you choose however you do need to make sure it is compatible. I'm not sure f the is what you were looking for. Good luck.