How does subcutaneous injection work

This is not recommended for subcutaneous injections, as there are no major blood vessels in the subcutaneous tissue and the risk of inadvertent intravenous administration is minimal Public Health England, The WHO ; stated that gloves need not be worn for this procedure if the skin of both health worker and patientis intact.

It also notes that gloves do not protect against needlestick injury. Nurses need to assess risk in each individual patient Royal College of Nursing, and be aware of local policies for glove use. It is recommended that subcutaneous injections, particularly of insulin, are administered at a degree angle to ensure that the medication is delivered into the subcutaneous tissue Down and Kirkland, ; Hunter, However, patient assessment is vital — patients who are cachectic and therefore have minimal amounts of subcutaneous tissue may require injections to be delivered at a degree angle.

PHE recommends that subcutaneous vaccinations are given with the needle at a degree angle to the skin and the skin should be pinched together PHE, Tagged with: Coronavirus zone: diabetes Newly qualified nurses: practical procedures. Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion.

You are here: Assessment skills. Injection technique 2: administering drugs via the subcutaneous route. Abstract The subcutaneous route allows drugs such as insulin and heparin to be absorbed slowly over a period of time.

Author: Eileen Shepherd is clinical editor at Nursing Times. This article has been double-blind peer reviewed Scroll down to read the article or download a print-friendly PDF here if the PDF fails to fully download please try again using a different browser Read part 1 of this series here. Box 1. Journal of Advanced Nursing; 3, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Then pull back on the plunger to withdraw the correct amount of medication.

Remove any air bubbles. Tap the syringe to push any bubbles to the top and gently depress the plunger to push the air bubbles out. Pinch your skin. Take a big pinch of skin between your thumb and index finger and hold it. Your thumb and forefinger should be about an inch and a half apart. This pulls the fatty tissue away from the muscle and makes the injection easier. Inject the needle. Inject the needle into the pinched skin at a degree angle.

You should do this quickly, but without great force. If you have very little fat on your body, you may need to inject the needle at a degree angle to the skin.

Insert the medication. Slowly push the plunger to inject the medication. You should inject the entire amount of medication. Withdraw the needle. Let go of the pinched skin and withdraw the needle.

Apply pressure to the site. Use gauze to apply light pressure to the injection site. You may notice a little bruising later. This is common and nothing to be concerned about. For example, if you injected medicine into your left thigh this morning, use your right thigh this afternoon. Using the same injection site over and over again can cause discomfort and even tissue damage. As with any injection procedure, infection at the site of injection is a possibility. Signs of infection at the injection site include:.

Examples of medications given by sub-Q injection include: Insulin for people with diabetes Low molecular weight heparin such as enoxaparin to prevent blood clots Possible Complications Any break in the skin can increase the risk of infection. What to Expect Prior to Procedure Make sure you have all of the items you will need easily available: syringe, medication, cleaning materials, etc.

Wash hands with warm, soapy water. Dry with a clean towel. Select a site. Cleanse the area about 2 inches with a fresh alcohol wipe. Wait for the site to dry. Giving the Subcutaneous Injection Remove the needle cap. Pinch a 2-inch fold of skin between your thumb and index finger. Hold the syringe the way you would a pencil or dart. Insert the needle at about a degree angle to the pinched-up skin.

The needle should be completely covered by skin. Slowly push the plunger all the way down to inject the medication. Remove the needle from the skin. If there is bleeding at the site of injection, apply a bandage. Immediately put the syringe and needle into a container that is puncture-proof.

Find out what services are available in your area for disposing of biological waste. General Injection Tips Change your injection site in a regular pattern. Give new injections at least 1. Will It Hurt? Tips for Minimizing Injection Pain Inject medication that is at room temperature.

Remove all air bubbles from the syringe before injection. Medications used How to do it Does it hurt? Complications Takeaway A subcutaneous injection or shot is one into the fatty tissues just beneath the skin. Medications used in subcutaneous injections. Share on Pinterest Insulin for diabetes requires a subcutaneous injection. How to do a subcutaneous injection. Does a subcutaneous injection hurt? Share on Pinterest Using ice to numb the area before the injection may reduce discomfort.

Are there any complications? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

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