How do I give a subcutaneous injection?
- Open the alcohol wipe: Wipe the area where you plan to give the injection. ...
- Prepare the needle: Hold the syringe with your writing hand and pull the cover off with your other hand. ...
- Grasp the skin: With your other hand, grasp the skin.
Why are subcutaneous injections given at a 45 degree angle?
Insert the needle at a 90degree (right) angle. This angle is important to ensure that the medications will be injected into the fatty tissue. However, for small children, and persons with lit tle subcutaneous fat on thin skin, you may be taught to use a 45degree angle.
What is the maximum volume of a subcutaneous injection?
Large subcutaneous injection volumes are associated with pain. In this sense, the maximum volume generally accepted is around 1.5 ml, although volumes of up to 3 ml are well tolerated when injected in the abdomen. Injected volumes of up to 0.5–0.8 ml are not expected to increase substantially the pain produced by the needle insertion.
How to give sq injections?
The best areas on your body to give yourself a SQ injection are:
- Upper arms. At least 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) below your shoulder and 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) above your elbow, on the side or back.
- Outer side of upper thighs.
- Belly area. Below your ribs and above your hip bones, at least 2 inches (5 centimeters) away from your belly button.
Why is insulin given subcutaneously?
Insulin is needed to ensure that glucose is properly utilized and that levels of glucose remain stable. In order to work properly, insulin must enter the bloodstream intact. By injecting it into the subcutaneous tissue in our bodies, it is designed to be absorbed into the bloodstream without changing its properties and within a proscribed amount of time.
How do you inject a subcutaneously?
A subcutaneous injection is a way to give certain medications using a needle....In general:Take your thumb and index (pointer) finger and pinch the skin. ... Remove any safety device from the needle. ... While keeping the skin pinched, slowly push the plunger on the syringe to push the medication into your subcutaneous tissue.More items...
Where do you give a subcutaneous injection?
Choose Your Injection Site At least 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) below your shoulder and 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) above your elbow, on the side or back. Outer side of upper thighs. Belly area. Below your ribs and above your hip bones, at least 2 inches (5 centimeters) away from your belly button.
How do nurses administer subcutaneous injections?
2:283:29Administering Subcutaneous Injections - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf your patient is obese pinch the skin and inject the needle below the tissue fold at a 90 degreeMoreIf your patient is obese pinch the skin and inject the needle below the tissue fold at a 90 degree angle. Move your dominant hand to the end of the plunger. And slowly inject the medication.
How deep is a subcutaneous injection?
Subcutaneous injections can be given straight in at a 90 degree angle or at a 45 degree angle. Give the injection at a 90 degree angle if you can grasp 2 inches of skin between your thumb and first finger. If you can grasp only 1 inch of skin, give the injection at a 45 degree angle.
What happens if you give a subcutaneous injection wrong?
The most common complication of a subcutaneous injection is pain near the injection site for 1 to 2 days afterward. Pain near the injection site can happen when inserting the needle at the wrong angle, or when it moves slightly during the injection.
Does it matter where you give subcutaneous?
The location of injection is important for subcutaneous injections. The drug needs to be injected into the fatty tissue just below the skin. Some areas of the body have a more easily accessible layer of tissue, where a needle injected under the skin will not hit muscle, bone, or blood vessels.
What are the 5 subcutaneous injection sites?
Sites for subcutaneous injections include the outer lateral aspect of the upper arm, the abdomen (from below the costal margin to the iliac crest and more than two inches from the umbilicus), the anterior upper thighs, the upper back, and the upper ventral gluteal area.
Why do we pinch skin for subcutaneous injection?
Insert the needle quickly and firmly at a 90-degree angle. Release the skin. Option: When using an injection pen or giving heparin, continue to pinch the skin while injecting the medication. Rationale: Pinching the skin elevates subcutaneous tissue and desensitizes the area.
How do you give a painless subcutaneous injection?
2:013:46Administering a Nearly Painless Insulin Injection - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow you have an exposed needle. So you want to be careful with that and you want to hold it withMoreNow you have an exposed needle. So you want to be careful with that and you want to hold it with your index finger on the barrel. Between your second finger and thumb.
How far does the needle go in for subcutaneous injection?
Inject the Medicine With the hand that is not holding the syringe, pinch an inch (2.5 centimeters) of skin and fatty tissue (not the muscle) between your fingers. Quickly insert the needle all the way into the pinched skin at a 90-degree angle (45-degree angle if there is not much fatty tissue).
Where is the least painful place to get a subcutaneous injection?
The best sites for subcutaneous injections are those that provide an ample injection site and are well away from joints, nerves, and large blood vessels. These include: The upper outer area of the arm. The front and outer sides of the thighs.
How long should needle be for subcutaneous injection?
Subcutaneous (Subcut) injections Inject at a 45-degree angle into fatty tissue overlying the triceps muscle — a 5/8" needle, 23–25 gauge is recommended.
What are the 5 subcutaneous injection sites?
Sites for subcutaneous injections include the outer lateral aspect of the upper arm, the abdomen (from below the costal margin to the iliac crest and more than two inches from the umbilicus), the anterior upper thighs, the upper back, and the upper ventral gluteal area.
Where is the most common place to administer subcutaneous fluids?
Subcutaneous fluids can help pets over the hump. Fluids are administered through a small needle inserted into the skin between your pet's shoulder blades. It is normal for this area to swell up like a camel hump; over a few hours, the fluid will be absorbed and your pet's health should improve.
How to administer subcutaneous injections?
How to administer a subcutaneous injection. 1. Wash your hands. Wash your hands with soap and warm water to prevent potential infection. Be sure to thoroughly scrub between fingers, on the backs of hands, and under fingernails. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source.
What is subcutaneous injection?
Overview. A subcutaneous injection is a method of administering medication. Subcutaneous means under the skin. In this type of injection, a short needle is used to inject a drug into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle. Medication given this way is usually absorbed more slowly than if injected into a vein, ...
What is the thickness of a subcutaneous injection needle?
Vials can also be filled with a powder to which liquid needs to be added. Syringes: The needles are short, at 5/8 inches long. The thickness of the needle is usually 25 or 27 gauge.
What is an auto injector pen?
Auto-injector pen: Some medications are available in a “pen” with a short single-use needle screwed onto the end of a pen-shaped, multiuse vial. The amount of medication needed is then dialed in at the end. As mentioned earlier, emergency medications like epinephrine can also come in this form.
Why do you need to add air to a vial?
This is done because the vial is a vacuum, and you need to add an equal amount of air to regulate the pressure. This makes it easier to draw the medication into the syringe. Don’t worry, though — if you forget this step, you can still get the medication out of the vial. Insert air into the vial.
How to treat bleeding from a syringe injection?
Apply pressure to the site. Use gauze to apply light pressure to the injection site . If there’s any bleeding, it should be very minor. You may notice a little bruising later. This is common and nothing to be concerned about.
How many ml of insulin is safe?
Medications administered by subcutaneous injection include drugs that can be given in small volumes (usually less than 1 mL but up to 2 mL is safe). Insulin and some hormones are commonly administered as subcutaneous injections.
What is the subcutaneous layer of the body?
Select your injection site. This must be an area that has a layer of fat between the skin and the muscle. This is called subcutaneous. The following parts of your body have subcutaneous layers:
How to prevent giving a shot too soon?
Rotate your injection sites in a regular pattern. You should be at least 1 ½ inches away from the last injection site. Jot down on your calendar where you gave you last shot. This will help prevent giving the shot in the same place too soon.
How to get rid of pinched skin on a syringe?
Hold the syringe the way you would a pencil or dart. Insert the needle at a 45 to 90 degree angle to the pinched-up skin. The needle should be completely covered by skin. If you do this quickly, you will feel very little discomfort.
Do you need a kit to inject enbrel?
Before the Injection. Some medications such as Kineret ® and Enbrel ® must be injected. These medications come with a kit and a device to inject the medication. Some patients however prefer not to use the kit but to do the injection themselves; much like an insulin injection would be done.
How to administer subcutaneous injections?
1. Gather your supplies. Performing a subcutaneous injection properly requires more than just a needle, syringe, and medicine. Before proceeding, make sure you have the following: A sterile dose of your medication (usually in a small, labeled vial). A suitable syringe with a sterile needle tip.
Why do people use subcutaneous injections?
Because they give a slower, more gradual release than intravenous injections, subcutaneous injections are frequently used as a way to administer both vaccines and medications (for instance, type I diabetics often use this type of injection to administer insulin.).
How to dispose of a syringe?
A container for safely disposing of your syringe, such as an empty plastic milk container. Tape over the lid to secure it after putting a syringe inside and then dispose of the container.
What gauge needle do you use for a 0.5 cc syringe?
Depending on the size of your patient and the amount of medication to be administered, you may choose to use one of the following configurations or another safe, sterile means of injection: A 0.5 or 1 cc syringe with a 27-gauge needle. A pre-filled, disposable syringe.
Why rotate injection sites?
Note: It's important to rotate injection sites, as repeated injections into the same location can cause scarring and hardening of the fatty tissue, making future injections more difficult and interfering with absorption of the medication. ...
Can you give subcutaneous injections at home?
Prescriptions for medications requiring subcutaneous injections are usually accompanied by detailed instructions on the correct way to give the injection. The instructions in this article are intended to be used only as a guide line - contact a medical professional before you give any injections at home.
Can you give heparin in a syringe?
Heparin subcutaneous injections often come in pre-filled syringes, so it will be easier to administer the medication.
What is the size of a subcutaneous injection?
Equipment used for subcutaneous injections includes: Syringes: The needles are typically short, around 5/8-inch long and thin with usually a capacity of 1 mL and sometimes more for children and people with visual difficulties.
What medications can be given using a subcutaneous injection?
Medications injected by subcutaneous injection are usually medications that can be given in small volumes (up to 2 mL). Some common medications include:
How is insulin administered?
Insulin may be administered using the traditional insulin syringe or in the form of an automated injector, insulin pen
What is an auto injector pen?
Auto-injector pen: Some medications such as epinephrine and insulin are available in the form of a “pen” with a multi-use vial, which is quick and easy to administer , making it beneficial during emergencies. Medication. Before injection:
How to disinfect an injection site?
The injection site should be disinfected using an alcohol swab. The injection site should not have any swelling, redness, bruising, hardness, change in the skin texture or color, irritation, pain, or dilated veins. If these abnormalities are present, an alternate injection site may be chosen. To prevent damage to an area as a result of repeated injections at the same site, it is advised to change the injection site often. The syringe should be loaded with medication. In the case of an auto-injection pen, this is not required every time, and the vial needs to be changed once it’s completely over. It’s advised to follow the dosage advised by the doctor accurately. A new needle is required for the syringe with every injection. The auto-injection pen can be reused by the person with the same needle. The needle may be disinfected using an alcohol-based disinfectant.
How much blood loss is there after a subcutaneous injection?
Mild pressure may be applied after the injection to prevent bleeding. There is usually no more than one to two drops of blood loss during a subcutaneous injection. There may be minimal swelling and bruising, which resolves on its own.
How far apart should the thumb and index finger be for a muscle injection?
Once the appropriate site of injection is identified, the skin should be pinched between the thumb and index finger (around an inch and a half apart) and held in that position till the procedure is completed. This pulls the fatty tissue away from the underlying muscle, making the injection safer and easier.
Why do we need subcutaneous injections?
Subcutaneous injection can be used to give many types of medications for various medical conditions. There are fewer blood vessels in the fatty layer of connective tissue just beneath the skin than the muscle tissue. Having fewer blood vessels means that medication injected subcutaneously is absorbed more slowly.
How far should a subcutaneous injection needle go?
While holding the needle like a dart, slide it into the skin at an angle of 90 degrees: Needles used for subcutaneous injection are usually short and small and should go all the way into the skin.
Why does subcutaneous injection hurt?
Subcutaneous injections tend to be less painful than intramuscular injections because the needles are smaller and do not have to push through as much tissue.
How long does it take for pain to go away after subcutaneous injection?
The most common complication of a subcutaneous injection is pain near the injection site for 1 to 2 days afterward. Pain near the injection site can happen when inserting the needle at the wrong angle, or when it moves slightly during the injection. Some medications can cause a bruise or irritation at the injection site.
What are the medications that are given at home?
Medications given this way include: insulin for diabetes. blood thinners, such as heparin. some fertility drugs. some drugs, such as Enbrel and Kineret, for autoimmune diseases, including arthritis. Many drugs that must be taken daily, or injected at home, are designed for subcutaneous injection.
Where is the injection in the body?
the backs or sides of the arms. the fatty part of the stomach. the front of the thighs. the top of the buttocks, where there is more fat than muscle. Some subcutaneous injections come in the form of an auto-injector. An auto-injector is a self-contained device that does not require drawing the medication up first.
How to help with pain from a syringe injection?
A few strategies can help with the pain and anxiety: Use a numbing cream on the area a few minutes before the injection. Many doctor’s offices have these available. Try putting ice on the area to numb it a few minutes before the injection. Allow nursing babies to breast-feed during injections.
Why do we need subcutaneous injections?
Subcutaneous injections are used to: get a rapid and systemic effect of the drug; give small amounts and certain kinds of medicine that cannot be administered orally due to poor absorption in gastrointestinal tract; when the drug is toxic and irritating to the gastrointestinal mucosa.
What is subcutaneous injection maximum volume?
The dosage that can be given subcutaneous injection is usually less than 1 ml, but up to 2 ml is safe.
What areas of the body should you inject insulin into?
Each of the main four areas (abdomen, buttocks, outer thighs and upper arms) should give a give a good area of flesh to inject into. Using different areas of the body to inject into is insulin injection site rotation.
How to use a syringe for muscle injection?
Place the syringe between your thumb and first finger. Let the barrel of the syringe rest on your second finger. Pinch up on the fatty (subcutaneous) tissue to prevent injection into muscle: With your other hand, grasp the skin.
What is the angle of the needle in the deltoid?
The person giving the injection is holding the person’s shoulder with their left hand, and inserting the needle upwards into the deltoid, at a 45 degree angle to the arm.
How to get a syringe injection?
Have the person getting the injection stand with his hand on his hip. Stand next to and a little behind the person. Find the area halfway between the elbow and shoulder. Gently grasp the skin at the back of the arm between your thumb and first 2 fingers. You should be able to grasp 1 to 2 inches of skin.
What happens to the mouth after a syringe injection?
The mouth, lips, or face swells after the injection is given.
What is a subcutaneous shot?
This information will help you learn how to give yourself a subcutaneous (SUB-kyoo-TAY-nee-us) injection (shot) using a prefilled syringe. A subcutaneous injection is an injection that’s given under your skin. A prefilled syringe is a syringe that comes with medication inside.
Where is the injection part of your arms?
The back part of your upper arms, if someone else is giving you the injection
How to store prefilled syringes?
How you store your prefilled syringes depends on the medication inside them. Most medications are stored at room temperature, but some need to be kept in the refrigerator. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to store your syringes . Don’t store your prefilled syringes in the freezer or leave them in direct sunlight.
Why can't you use a syringe?
You can’t use a syringe because the medication is expired, foamy, discolored, cloudy, or has crystals.
How to clean the injection site?
Open the alcohol pad. Using firm pressure, clean the skin at the injection site. Start at the center of the site and move outward in a circular motion.
How to hold a syringe?
With your dominant hand (the hand you write with), hold the syringe around the middle, like a pen or dart.
What do you need to inject Lovenox?
Place your supplies on a clean, flat surface (such as a table or countertop). You’ll need: 1 alcohol pad. 1 small gauze pad or cotton ball , except if you’re giving yourself an injection of enoxaparin (Lovenox ®) or heparin. 1 bandage (such as a Band-Aid ®)
What is subcutaneous injection?
Subcutaneous injection is a method of injecting medication into the subcutaneous tissue, the layer of fat right under the skin. A short needle is used to inject a medicine into the tissue layer between the skin and muscle. Medication administered this way is usually absorbed more slowly compared with when injected into the vein, ...
Why is the site of subcutaneous injection important?
The site of subcutaneous injection is important. The site where a subcutaneous injection is given should contain sufficient fatty tissue to avoid the needle hitting a muscle, bone, or blood vessel.
What medications can be given using a subcutaneous injection?
Medications injected by a subcutaneous injection are usually medications that can be given in small volumes (up to 2 mL). Some common medications include:
How long is a subcutaneous injection needle?
Equipment used for subcutaneous injections includes: Syringes: The needles are typically short, around 5/8-inch long , and thin with usually a capacity of 1 mL and sometimes more for children and people with visual difficulties.
How much blood loss is there after a subcutaneous injection?
Mild pressure may be applied after the injection to prevent bleeding. There is usually no more than one to two drops of blood loss during a subcutaneous injection. There may be minimal swelling and bruising, which resolves on its own.
How far apart should the thumb and index finger be for a muscle injection?
Once the appropriate site of injection is identified, the skin should be pinched between the thumb and index finger (around an inch and a half apart) and held in that position till the procedure is completed. This pulls the fatty tissue away from the underlying muscle, making the injection safer and easier.
Is subcutaneous injection painful?
A subcutaneous injection is not very painful and feels like a quick pin prick or ant bite lasting a few seconds. It is advised to have a healthcare professional demonstrate how to administer the injection before one attempts to administer it themselves.
