How deep should intramuscular injection needles be?
4 min read
Asked by: Kimberly Wasness
A 1–1½” needle is recommended in women weighing 152–200 lbs (70–90 kg) and men weighing 152–260 lbs (70–118 kg). A 1½” needle is recommended in women weighing more than 200 lbs (90 kg) or men weighing more than 260 lbs (118 kg). Use a needle long enough to reach deep into the muscle.
How deep should an IM injection go?
The injection site will be approximately 2 inches below the bone and above the axillary fold/armpit.
Does the needle have to go all the way in for intramuscular injection?
injection site? Answer: Yes, the needle needs to go in all the way.
How long should an intramuscular needle be?
Intramuscular (IM) injections
Needle length is usually 1″–1½”, 22–25 gauge, but a longer or shorter needle may be needed depending on the patient’s weight. Note: An alternate site for IM injection in adults is the anterolateral thigh muscle.
How deep do you inject a vaccine?
Needle insertion
Use a needle long enough to reach deep into the muscle. Insert needle at a 90° angle to the skin with a quick thrust. Multiple injections given in the same extremity should be separated by a minimum of 1″, if possible.
What happens if you give an IM injection too high?
Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration, or SIRVA, happens when a vaccine is injected too high or too deep in the shoulder. Injecting the vaccine this way can lead to intense and prolonged pain and other shoulder injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear or tendonitis.
How deep under skin is muscle?
Average depth from skin to muscle was ~1.2cm.
How do you give a painless IM injection?
Make it as pain-free as possible
- Let the alcohol dry – This is pretty basic but, surprisingly, often skipped. …
- Insert and remove the needle quickly – a slow needle is a painful one. …
- Distract – Although some patients prefer to know when it’s coming, having their attention elsewhere actually reduces the perception of pain.
How deep is a deltoid injection?
The injection site is in the middle of the deltoid muscle, about 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) below the acromion process. To locate this area, lay three fingers across the deltoid muscle and below the acromion process. The injection site is generally three finger widths below, in the middle of the muscle.
Do you massage after intramuscular injection?
The site may be briefly massaged, depending on the medication given. Some medication manufacturers advise against massaging the site after injection, as it reduces the effect and intention of the medication by dispersing it too readily or over too large an area.
How deep is the Covid vaccine injected?
Administering Vaccine
The injection site is approximately 2 inches below the acromion process and above the axillary fold/armpit.
What is best practice for IM injections?
Intramuscular injections are administered at a 90-degree angle to the skin, preferably into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm, depending on the age of the patient (Table 6-2).
How do you inject an IM injection?
Hold it firmly about an inch away (2.54 cm) from the muscle. In the other hand, hold the needle at a 90-degree angle and insert it quickly and deeply enough to penetrate your muscle. Inject the medication. If there is no blood in the syringe, push on the plunger to inject the medication slowly into the muscle.
How do I find IM injection sites?
The correct area to give an IM injection is in the center of the triangle. 1 to 2 inches. Or about three fingers widths below the acromion.
Should you rub injection site?
Following a Perseris injection, patients should be advised that they will have a lump at the injection site which will decrease and disappear over time. They should not rub or massage the injection site or allow belts or waistbands to tightly constrict the area (Karas, Burdge, & Rey, 2019).
How can I practice IM injections at home?
The upper thigh or the outer hip. It's important to avoid giving the injection in the same spot every time. You also should avoid injecting any spot that's bruised tender or scarred.
