# Intramuscular Injection

## Overview

This module describes how to inject medication into a patient’s muscle.

## Indications

## Contraindications

## Patient information and consent

Always verify your patient’s identity and obtain informed consent before proceeding.

### How do I explain this procedure?

“I need to give you an injection into your muscle.”

### What can my patient expect?

“This will sting for a moment.”

### What is my patient’s role?

“Keep still while I give the injection. Let me know if you have any allergies. Fearing needles is normal, but tell me if you have fainted from it. ”

## Preparation

### Documentation

### Equipment

## Site & Positioning

### Ventrogluteal

This site on the lateral aspect of the buttock is the safest site to use. Position the patient lying on their stomach or side. To locate the site, use your right hand for the left hip or your left hand for the right hip. Place the heel of your hand on the greater trochanter, point the index finger to the anterior superior iliac spine, and the middle finger to the iliac crest. The area between the index and middle fingers is the ventrogluteal site.

### Vastus Lateralis

This site is preferred for infants and toddlers. The vastus lateralis muscle runs along the anterolateral thigh. Inject into the outer middle third of the thigh. Position the patient sitting or lying with the leg slightly flexed.

### Deltoid

Find the acromion process by palpating the bony prominence. The injection site is in the middle of the muscle, two to three fingerbreadths below this bony prominence.

## Procedure

Follow medical asepsis without gloves.

## Troubleshooting

I aspirated blood when pulling back on the plunger.

Pull back the needle and aspirate again to make sure you are not in a blood vessel before injecting the solution or select another site. Injecting a drug into a blood vessel may damage the vessel or the drug may not be suitable for IV administration and cause serious complications.

The medication is leaking out of the injection site.

Next time, try using the Z-track method. Use your non-dominant hand to pull the skin sideways. Enter and inject while still pulling sideways. After withdrawing, release the skin.

## Risks

## References