Table of Contents
REQUIREMENTS #
- A tray containing the following:
- Medication
- Two or three syringes
- Needles
- Cotton wool swabs in gallipot
- Antimicrobial solution
- Treatment chat
- File where necessary
- Sharps container
STEPS #
- Check for the right patient, right medication, right time, right dose against doctor’s order and treatment chart (manual or electronic) as well as the expiry date
- Establish rapport (Refer to steps)
- Explain procedure and reassure patient
- Ensure patient’s right to know/consent and to refuse medication
- Perform hand hygiene
- Prepare and sent tray to the bed side
- Check patient details and medication dosage against the treatment chart (manual or electronic)
- Assemble syringe and needle using sterile technique
- File/break ampoule or remove metal cap of vial with a clean swab
- Draw medication with a syringe and discard the needle into the sharp container
- Replace needle with a new one and expel air
- Assist patient into a required position and exposes site for injection
- Clean injection site with cotton swab dipped in antimicrobial solution (i.e. upper outer quadrant for buttocks and outer aspect for thigh)
- Insert the needle quickly and firmly deep into the muscle at right angle
- Withdraw plunger a little to ensure needle is not in the blood vessel (if blood appears withdraws needle)
- Push to release medication into the tissue
- Withdraw the syringe and needle quickly and with a swab gently applies pressure to the site of injection
- Discard syringe and needle into a sharps container
- Put patient into a desirable position
- Document procedure on nurses’ notes and chart on the treatment chart (manual or electronic)
- Dispose off used items and decontaminate tray
- Perform hand hygiene
- Check on patient after thirty (30) minutes for therapeutic effect