Parenteral Flashcards
(132 cards)
Parenteral means administered in a manner other than _________________
Through the digestive tract
Name 3 circumstances in which parenteral routes are used
- vomiting - cannot swallow - restricted from taking oral fluids
When administering parenteral medication, what “cleaning” technique do you use?
aseptic
Name and describe the four routes for parenteral administration
- Intradermal (ID): into dermis just under epidermis 2. Subcutaneous: into tissues just under the dermis 3. Intramuscular (IM): into the body of a muscle 4. Intravenous (IV) injection or infusion: injection into a vein
Name five complications that can occur if you fail to inject a medication correctly
- inappropriate drug response (too rapid or too slow) - nerve injury with associated pain - localized bleeding - tissue necrosis - sterile abscess
What is the best site for IM injections? Why were nurses reluctant to use this site?
Ventrogluteal difficulty in anatomically locating it and belief it isn’t safe
What are the four Principles of preventing infection during an injection? What techniques should be used for each?
- Prevent contamination of solution (ampules closed, med removed quick)
- Prevent needle contamination (avoid touching contam. surface; avoid touching length of plunger, keep tip covered)
- Prepare skin (wash soiled with soap/water, friction and circular motion with antiseptic swap, swab from center of site and move outward in a 5-cm (2-inch) radius
- Reduce transfer of microorganisms (perform hand hygiene for a minimum of 15 seconds)
VENTROGLUTEAL
Advantages:
Preferred site for what kind of medications:
Pain compared to vastus lateralis:
Recommendations for children:
Advantages: deep and away from major nerves/blood vessels; easily identified by prominent bony landmarks
Preferred site for what kind of medications: large in volume, more viscous, irritating
Pain compared to vastus lateralis: less painful
Recommendations for children: pediatric IM injection site for children of all ages
VASTUS LATERALIS
Advantages:
Used for what in children:
Pediatric recommendations:
Advantages: absence of major nerves/blood vessels, drug absorption rapid
Used for what in children: immunizations
Pediatric recommendations: IM injection site for infants up to 12 months of age
DELTOID
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
What kind of meds used for:
May be used for what in adults:
Pediatric recommendations:
Advantages: easily accessible, faster absorption rate
Disadvantages: not well developed in most patients
What kind of meds used for: small volumes
May be used for what in adults: vaccination (depending on development of muscle)
Pediatric recommendations: IM injection site for children 18 months and older
Six Rights of Med Admin
- Right person
- Right time
- Right route
- Right dose
- Right drug
- Right documentation
10 Guidelines to follow to ensure safe med admin
- be vigilant (know your shit)
- expiry date
- 2 identifiers
- clarify/ask for help
- use technology-no workarounds
- strict aseptic technique during prep and admin
- educate patients during admin
- don’t delegate
- no-interruption zones
- minimize patient discomfort
What is a “workaround”? How and why do nurses use them?
A “workaround” bypasses a procedure, policy or problem in the system.
They fail to follow agency policies, protocols, or procedures in an attempt to admin meds faster
12 ways to minimize patient discomfort during injection
- use sharp, beveled needle in the shortest length/smallest guage
- change needle if liquid coats shaft
- position and flex pt’s limbs to reduce muscular tension
- divert pt’s attention
- apply vapocoolant spray or topical anesthetic or place wrapped ice for a minute before
- insert needle at proper angle, smoothly and quickly. don’t hesitate
- inject med slowly but smoothly
- hold syringe steady once needle is in tissue to prevent tissue damage
- withdraw the needle smoothly at same angle used for insetion
- gently apply antiseptic pad or dry sterile gauze pad to site
- apply gentle pressure at injection site
- rotate injection sites to prevent formation of indurations and abscesses
What is the most frequent route of exposure to bloodborne disease for health care workers? Where is this most likely to occur? When do they occur?
Needlestick injuries
In pt rooms and the OR
When HCWs recap needles, mishandle IV lines and needles, or leave needles at pt bedside
8 Recommendation for the Prevention of Needlestick injuries
- avoid needles when effective needleless systems or SESIP safety devices are available
- do not recap after admin
- plan safe handling and disposal before beginning
- immediate disposal in sharps container
- maintain sharp injury log
- attent educational offering and follow recommendations (incld. receiving hep B vaccine)
- report all needlestick injuries
- participate in selection and eval of SESIP devices
What is a SESIP? Name 2 types
Sharp with engineered sharps injury prevention (SESIP)
blunt-end cannula; safety syringe equipped with plastic guard or sheath that slips over needle as it is withdrawn from skin
What are 4 requirements for sharps containers?
- only one hand needs to be used
- stand upright
- not allowed to overfill
- be colored red or labeled with biohazard
When administering parenteral injections, you must first determine 43things:
These determinations are based on 3 things:
- appropriate size, length, and guage of needle; volume of solution; medication route
- quantity of med, type of med, body size of pt
What do electronic infusion pumps do?
ensure a constant and accurate delivery of medication
Syringe capacity ranges from ___mL - ___mL
0.5 mL - 60 mL
It is unusual to use a syringe larger than ___ mL for IM injections
5 mL
Why are large volumes of meds not good?
create pain and dicomfort for pt
Syringes are most commonly marked in a scale of ________
tenths of a million