Medication Preparation and Administration of an Intramuscular Injection: Lesson 2

1. All of the following are appropriate sites for the administration of an intramuscular injection except:

a. Deltoid muscle

b. Gluteus maximus

c. Vastus lateralis

d. Ventrogluteal

2. Possible complications of improper technique when administering an intramuscular injection include which of the following:

a. Abscesses

b. Lingering pain

c. Tissue necrosis

d. All of the above

3. The angle for injecting the needle when administering an intramuscular injection is:

a. 5-15 degrees

b. 45 degrees

c. 60 degrees

d. 90 degrees

4. The appropriate needle length for administering an intramuscular injection in the Vastus lateralis is:

a. 3/4 inch

b. 1/2 inch

c. 1 inch

d. 3 inches

5. Which of the following appropriate landmark (s) is used by the nurse to identify the Vastus lateralis?

a. Acromion process

b. Patella

c. Clavicle

d. Greater trochanter

e. a and c

f. b and d

6. All of the following equipment is necessary for administering an intramuscular injection except:

a. Sterile gloves

b. Sterile syringe

c. Appropriate needle

d. Small gauze pad

e. Medication

7. Which of the following appropriate landmark (s) is used by the nurse to identify the Ventrogluteal site for an intramuscular injection?

a. Anterior superior iliac spine

b. Coccyx

c. Greater trochanter

d. a and b

e. a and c

8. The student observes a nurse giving an intramuscular injection to a patient. The nurse darts the needle quickly into the prepared site. The student understands that the medication is injected quickly because:

a. The patient is really uncomfortable

b. A quick injection is less painful

c. The nurse is in a hurry

d. The patient is afraid of needles

9. Place the following steps for administering an intramuscular injection in the correct order:

1. Remove the needle cap

2. Withdraw the needle smoothly and apply gentle pressure

3. Cleanse the area around the injection site

4. Inject the medication slowly

5. Quickly dart the needle into the tissue

6. Displace the skin with nondominant hand

a. 3, 1, 5, 6, 4, 2

b. 3, 1, 6, 5, 4, 2

c. 1, 3, 6, 5, 4, 2

d. 3, 1, 5, 4, 2, 6

10. While injecting a needle into a patient, you hit the patient’s bone. What should you do next?

a. Withdraw and discard the needle

b. Apply new needle to syringe and administer in alternate site

c. Document incident in patient’s medical record

d. All of the above