How to Give an Intradermal Injection
Prepare the medication., Gather your supplies., Explain the procedure to the patient., Wash your hands and put on gloves., Choose the injection site., Double check the medication and patient., Position the patient., Clean the injection site., Pull...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Prepare the medication.
Check the physician’s orders, MAR, and the Parenteral Drug Therapy Manual (PDTM) to identify the correct medication to be administered.
Then prepare the medication by sticking the syringe into the appropriate vial.Make sure to fill the syringe with an appropriate amount of medication.
The dosage of an intradermal injection is typically below
0.5 ml. -
Step 2: Gather your supplies.
Place non-sterile gloves, a syringe, alcohol swabs, and gauze on a tray.
Place the tray near your workstation.Make sure the needle you are using is a 3⁄8 to 3⁄4 inch (1.0 to
1.9 cm), 26 to 28 gauge needle.
Non-sterile, medical gloves are typically used for medical procedures that are non-surgical., Introduce yourself to the patient.
To reduce the patient’s anxiety about the procedure, explain to the patient why the procedure is being done and what it will entail.Also, allow the patient to express any concerns and to ask questions before you begin. , To avoid any kind of contamination, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Lather your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and rinse with warm water.
Before turning off the water, dry your hands with paper towels and use the paper towels to turn off the faucet.
Once your hands are dry, put on your medical gloves to prepare for the procedure., Intradermal injections are usually given on the inner surface of the forearm.
Choose an injection site that is free of hair, moles, rashes, scars, and other skin lesions.Intradermal injections can also be administered on the patient’s thigh or the back of their upper arm.
Ask the patient where they prefer you to administer the medication. , Ensure you have the correct medication and dosage.
You should also double-check the patient’s name to be sure you are administering the correct medication to the correct person.
Ensure the patient knows what you are administering.
You could say “the doctor ordered ‘xyz medication.’ Is this what you were expecting?”, If you are giving the injection through the patient’s inner forearm, then position their arm with their palm facing up.
Their arm should be relaxed with their elbow flexed., Using a firm, circular motion, wipe the injection site with the antiseptic or alcohol swab.
Let the injection site dry completely before proceeding.By allowing the skin to dry completely before inserting the needle, you can prevent alcohol and other pathogens from entering the skin when the needle is inserted.
Since intradermal injections do not involve the penetration of major blood vessels, you do not need to aspirate the syringe. , Use your non-dominant hand to do this.
Place your thumb below the injection site and your middle finger above it.
Use these fingers to gently pull the skin taut to ensure easy penetration of the needle.Try to avoid moving the skin to the side or drawing the skin too far back. , Use your dominant hand to hold the syringe parallel to the patient’s arm.
The bevel should be facing up.
Slightly angle the needle so that it is at a 5 to 15 degree angle relative to the skin.Make sure to place your fingers and thumb on the sides of the barrel.
If they are underneath the barrel, this can cause the angle of insertion to go beyond 15 degrees. , Slowly insert the needle into the patient’s skin until it is ¼ inch (6.35 mm) in, or the entire bevel is under the skin.
Once the syringe is in place, remove your non-dominant hand to release the tension surrounding the injection site.
Use this hand to push the plunger in to administer the medication., Do this as you are administering the medication.
A weal or bleb is an area of the skin that is raised like a blister or bubble.
The presence of a weal indicates that the medicine has been administered into the dermis properly.If a weal or bleb does not form, then remove the needle and repeat the procedure on another site. , Do this once all of the medication has been administered.
Slowly remove the needle at an angle that is the same as the insertion angle.
This will help minimize damage to the tissues at the injection site and discomfort to the patient., Apply gauze and a bandage (if necessary) to the injection site.
Try to avoid massaging the injection site.
By massaging the area, you may cause the medication to spread to the underlying subcutaneous tissues., Place the safety cap on the needle.
Then throw away the needle in a sharps container.
Additionally, properly dispose of any contaminated supplies., Remove your medical gloves and throw them away.
Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap.
Dry them with clean paper towels., It’s a good idea to write down where on the body you administered the medication.
This is especially useful if the patient gets injections often, as it will help other medical personnel know to rotate the injection sites so that one area is not constantly used. -
Step 3: Explain the procedure to the patient.
-
Step 4: Wash your hands and put on gloves.
-
Step 5: Choose the injection site.
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Step 6: Double check the medication and patient.
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Step 7: Position the patient.
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Step 8: Clean the injection site.
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Step 9: Pull the skin taut.
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Step 10: Hold the needle at a 5 to 15 degree angle.
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Step 11: Insert the needle into the skin.
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Step 12: Look for the formation of a weal or a bleb.
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Step 13: Remove the needle.
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Step 14: Apply gauze.
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Step 15: Discard the needle.
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Step 16: Wash your hands.
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Step 17: Make a note of the injection site.
Detailed Guide
Check the physician’s orders, MAR, and the Parenteral Drug Therapy Manual (PDTM) to identify the correct medication to be administered.
Then prepare the medication by sticking the syringe into the appropriate vial.Make sure to fill the syringe with an appropriate amount of medication.
The dosage of an intradermal injection is typically below
0.5 ml.
Place non-sterile gloves, a syringe, alcohol swabs, and gauze on a tray.
Place the tray near your workstation.Make sure the needle you are using is a 3⁄8 to 3⁄4 inch (1.0 to
1.9 cm), 26 to 28 gauge needle.
Non-sterile, medical gloves are typically used for medical procedures that are non-surgical., Introduce yourself to the patient.
To reduce the patient’s anxiety about the procedure, explain to the patient why the procedure is being done and what it will entail.Also, allow the patient to express any concerns and to ask questions before you begin. , To avoid any kind of contamination, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Lather your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds and rinse with warm water.
Before turning off the water, dry your hands with paper towels and use the paper towels to turn off the faucet.
Once your hands are dry, put on your medical gloves to prepare for the procedure., Intradermal injections are usually given on the inner surface of the forearm.
Choose an injection site that is free of hair, moles, rashes, scars, and other skin lesions.Intradermal injections can also be administered on the patient’s thigh or the back of their upper arm.
Ask the patient where they prefer you to administer the medication. , Ensure you have the correct medication and dosage.
You should also double-check the patient’s name to be sure you are administering the correct medication to the correct person.
Ensure the patient knows what you are administering.
You could say “the doctor ordered ‘xyz medication.’ Is this what you were expecting?”, If you are giving the injection through the patient’s inner forearm, then position their arm with their palm facing up.
Their arm should be relaxed with their elbow flexed., Using a firm, circular motion, wipe the injection site with the antiseptic or alcohol swab.
Let the injection site dry completely before proceeding.By allowing the skin to dry completely before inserting the needle, you can prevent alcohol and other pathogens from entering the skin when the needle is inserted.
Since intradermal injections do not involve the penetration of major blood vessels, you do not need to aspirate the syringe. , Use your non-dominant hand to do this.
Place your thumb below the injection site and your middle finger above it.
Use these fingers to gently pull the skin taut to ensure easy penetration of the needle.Try to avoid moving the skin to the side or drawing the skin too far back. , Use your dominant hand to hold the syringe parallel to the patient’s arm.
The bevel should be facing up.
Slightly angle the needle so that it is at a 5 to 15 degree angle relative to the skin.Make sure to place your fingers and thumb on the sides of the barrel.
If they are underneath the barrel, this can cause the angle of insertion to go beyond 15 degrees. , Slowly insert the needle into the patient’s skin until it is ¼ inch (6.35 mm) in, or the entire bevel is under the skin.
Once the syringe is in place, remove your non-dominant hand to release the tension surrounding the injection site.
Use this hand to push the plunger in to administer the medication., Do this as you are administering the medication.
A weal or bleb is an area of the skin that is raised like a blister or bubble.
The presence of a weal indicates that the medicine has been administered into the dermis properly.If a weal or bleb does not form, then remove the needle and repeat the procedure on another site. , Do this once all of the medication has been administered.
Slowly remove the needle at an angle that is the same as the insertion angle.
This will help minimize damage to the tissues at the injection site and discomfort to the patient., Apply gauze and a bandage (if necessary) to the injection site.
Try to avoid massaging the injection site.
By massaging the area, you may cause the medication to spread to the underlying subcutaneous tissues., Place the safety cap on the needle.
Then throw away the needle in a sharps container.
Additionally, properly dispose of any contaminated supplies., Remove your medical gloves and throw them away.
Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap.
Dry them with clean paper towels., It’s a good idea to write down where on the body you administered the medication.
This is especially useful if the patient gets injections often, as it will help other medical personnel know to rotate the injection sites so that one area is not constantly used.
About the Author
Scott Brooks
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in home improvement and beyond.
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