Subcutaneous (SubQ) Medication Administration: Injection (Nursing)

00:04 Now that we've drawn up our medication from our subcutaneous injection, we're gonna now do the injection itself.

00:11 So, first, make sure you expose the administration site and clean that with an antiseptic pad.

00:17 Usually, that's gonna be an alcohol swab.

00:20 So, now, let's remove the protective sheath of the needle.

00:23 So, now, we're gonna use our non-dominant hand and grasp the skin around the injection site.

00:29 So, really, here, all we're doing is taking that hand and kind of plumping up the skin to give us a nice surface area to inject.

00:37 What we don't wanna do is pinch really narrow cuz our hands can get in the way or we don't wanna pinch really hard cuz that can be uncomfortable for the patient.

00:46 Next, we're gonna take the needle and do it in a very and inject in a very quick, smooth-like motion.

00:53 So, we have options. You can either go at a 45-degree angle or a 90-degree angle.

00:59 So, something to note. Most of your patients of a healthy weight or maybe even a higher body mass index, you can go a full 90-degree angle because this is safe and also, remember how the length of those needles are? They're pretty short. Also, sometimes, you need to consider, you may need to use a 45-degree angle technique.

01:22 Now, this is less common because this is really gonna be used on the patients that are maybe even emaciated, really underweight or under body mass index or someone that's malnourished.

01:34 So, 45-degree angles injections are more rare, 90-degree angles are really going to be what you go by and usually the most common.

01:43 So, now, we're gonna inject the medication and then, release the skin held by your non-dominant hand.

01:50 Then we can remove that needle quickly and smoothly and make sure we activate that needle safety promptly to withdraw the needle and make sure that needle is safe and covered and out of the way.

02:06 Now that we've drawn up our medication, let's take a look at the actual injection itself.

02:11 We wanna make sure a patient's nice and comfortable, then, we're gonna choose our injection site.

02:17 Now, for this demonstration, I'm gonna use the abdomen.

02:20 Alright, so, then, I'm going to expose the site but also, try to leave the patient as covered as possible.

02:26 So, I only need to expose a little bit of the patient's abdomen to give this injection.

02:33 So, when I -- before I give the injection, I wanna assess the site, make sure there's no wounds or scars on the place that I'm going to inject.

02:42 Typically, one would wanna go at least about an inch out from the belly button and anywhere here on the abdomen, we can go all the way to the "love handles" if you will on the side of the stomach.

02:53 Alright, so, now, we're gonna prepare our site and we're gonna make sure we clean thoroughly.

03:01 So, this can be kind of cold for your patient.

03:04 So, make sure you scrub and clean your site appropriately.

03:09 Then, when we go to give the injection, I'm going to grasp the patient's skin and where I'm going to inject. So, when I do that, I don't need to pinch really hard or pinch really narrow because I don't wanna get my fingers in the way.

03:22 I also don't wanna make it painful for the patient.

03:25 Alright, so, now, let's also talk about the angle. Now, my patient's at a healthy weight.

03:31 So, here, we're gonna go at a 90-degree angle.

03:34 If my patients may be emaciated, malnourished, or have very little adipose tissue, we may need to consider going at a 45-degree angle.

03:44 But for this demonstration, my patient, we're gonna use a 90-degree angle which is appropriate.

03:49 Alright, so, now, let's get ready for administration.

03:52 So that now this particular syringe I have in my hand, notice the orange cap.

03:56 Now, the great thing about this, this is universal for this sign that it's an insulin syringe.

04:02 So, you should only have insulin in an insulin syringe.

04:06 So, it's a little bit different for the fact that this is counted in units when you give insulin.

04:11 So, again, it's really important to pick the appropriate syringe for the right medication.

04:16 Alright, so, notice that orange cap, think insulin.

04:20 Okay, so, now, we're gonna remove our cap.

04:22 Notice when I pull it away, I pull it away from my body. I pull it away from the patient.

04:27 I'm not pulling it this way so where I accidentally stab myself.

04:31 So, please make sure you keep this nice and away from you and the patient.

04:35 So, I'm gonna move this off and pull, so, we also take care not to bend the needle.

04:42 Then, when I position this, everybody holds these differently. I want a nice, firm grasp.

04:48 And also, notice how I have it. I wanna do it to where when I've got a hold of that needle, I'm gonna make a dart like motion for our patient.

04:55 So, this is important because a lot of the times when we go to inject, we're very nervous about hurting the patient. Think about this as a needle.

05:05 We want it to pierce the skin. It's nice and sharp, so, don't forget about that dart motion anytime you give an injection, so, don't forget to dart.

05:15 Alright, so, now, I'm gonna take my non-dominant hand.

05:18 I'm gonna plump up the skin or the site just to give me a landmark and also, make it a little bit more comfortable with my patient and go and inject.

05:27 Alright, I'm gonna go ahead and give your insulin, sir.

05:30 So, notice, I darted, then, I'm going to inject my medication, and now, I'm gonna slowly remove it and then, I can release the skin.

05:39 As soon if I've injected, I wanna make sure to activate that safety mechanism immediately.

05:46 Now, I'm using this on the bedside table.

05:49 This way, it stays away from me, my patient. Also, notice we heard that click.

05:54 That's the best way to know that it's locked and safe, so, watch this.

05:59 That's what we want, so, this doesn't slide down and we know the needles protected.

06:05 Then, after that, we wanna make sure that we notice, make sure the patient's not bleeding.

06:10 Typically with a subcutaneous injection, they don't need a Band-Aid.

06:15 We are not going to massage the site and then, we wanna provide privacy back.

06:20 Thank you so very much. And then, provide patient comfort.