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Nurses’ use of appropriate needle sizes when administering intramuscular injections

Nurses’ use of appropriate needle sizes when administering intramuscular injections
Nurses’ use of appropriate needle sizes when administering intramuscular injections

Background: In cases where patients are overweight or obese, administration of intramuscular medications can be ineffective due to inappropriate sizes of needles used. This study investigated whether the size of needles used to administer intramuscular injections is appropriate for patients on the basis of their weight or body mass index. Method: This retrospective review examined 100 instances of intramuscular injection on a 50-bed ward. Results: In most instances, intramuscular medication was inappropriately administered. Needle sizes were not determined based on body mass index, and the possibility of true intramuscular penetration was minimal. Appropriate needle sizes were more likely to be chosen when instructions were provided with medications. Conclusion: Current available needle sizes may be inappropriate for certain patients. Nursing staff require further education to assist them in making correct needle choices. It is also important that health care settings have evidence-based policies in place and the necessary resources provided to ensure safe and correct administration of medication.

0022-0124
519-525
White, Sheila
d44c0ceb-bb47-482c-bfed-daa3846d572b
Goodwin, John
35c497a2-b369-4f60-9e98-5685ce1ac03c
Behan, Laura
cf1a7b5e-64c5-4b02-8db2-7ad96781d40d
White, Sheila
d44c0ceb-bb47-482c-bfed-daa3846d572b
Goodwin, John
35c497a2-b369-4f60-9e98-5685ce1ac03c
Behan, Laura
cf1a7b5e-64c5-4b02-8db2-7ad96781d40d

White, Sheila, Goodwin, John and Behan, Laura (2018) Nurses’ use of appropriate needle sizes when administering intramuscular injections. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 49 (11), 519-525. (doi:10.3928/00220124-20181017-09).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: In cases where patients are overweight or obese, administration of intramuscular medications can be ineffective due to inappropriate sizes of needles used. This study investigated whether the size of needles used to administer intramuscular injections is appropriate for patients on the basis of their weight or body mass index. Method: This retrospective review examined 100 instances of intramuscular injection on a 50-bed ward. Results: In most instances, intramuscular medication was inappropriately administered. Needle sizes were not determined based on body mass index, and the possibility of true intramuscular penetration was minimal. Appropriate needle sizes were more likely to be chosen when instructions were provided with medications. Conclusion: Current available needle sizes may be inappropriate for certain patients. Nursing staff require further education to assist them in making correct needle choices. It is also important that health care settings have evidence-based policies in place and the necessary resources provided to ensure safe and correct administration of medication.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 31 May 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 30 October 2018

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 428120
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/428120
ISSN: 0022-0124
PURE UUID: 2d484ce5-8576-4783-9bcf-8ec9f471950e

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Date deposited: 12 Feb 2019 17:30
Last modified: 05 Jun 2024 19:55

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Contributors

Author: Sheila White
Author: John Goodwin
Author: Laura Behan

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