Administering Medication through Intradermal Injection
Instruction: Check under Correctly Done if identified skill is correctly performed;
Incorrectly Done if skill is not performed correctly; and Not Done if the student failed to
perform the skill.
Procedure Correctly Incorrectly Not Done
Done Done
2 1 0
1. Gather all materials needed. Check
each medication order against the
original physician’s order according to
agency protocol. Clarify any
inconsistencies. Check the patient’s chart
for allergies.
2. Know the actions, special nursing
considerations, safe dose ranges, purpose
of administration and adverse effects of
the medication to be administered,
consider the appropriateness of the
medication for this patient.
3. Perform hand hygiene.
4. Move the medication cart to the
outside of the patient’s room or prepare
for administration in the medication area.
5. Prepare medications for one patient
at a time.
6. Read the Medication Administration
Record (MAR) and select the proper
medication from the patient’s medication
drawer or unit stock.
7. Compare the label with the MAR.
Check the expiration date and perform
calculations, if necessary.
8. If necessary, withdraw medication
from an ampule or vial as described in the
previous skills.
9. When all medications for one patient
have been prepared, recheck the label
with the MAR before taking them to the
patient.
10. Lock the medication cart before
leaving it.
11. Transport medications to the patient’s
bedside carefully and always keep the
medications in sight.
12. Ensure that the patient receives the
medications at the correct time.
13. Identify the patient. Usually the
patient should be identified through:
a. Checking the name and identification
number on the patient’s identification
band
b. Ask the patent to state his or her
name.
c. If the patient cannot identify him or
herself, verify the patient’s identification
with a staff member who knows the
patient for the second source.
14. Close the door to the room or pull the
bedside curtain.
15. Complete necessary assessments
before administering medications. Check
allergy bracelet or ask patient about
allergies. Explain the purpose of the
medication to the patient.
16. Perform hand hygiene and put on
clean gloves.
17. Select an appropriate administration
site. Assist the patient to the appropriate
position for the site chosen. Drape as
needed to expose only the area of site to
be used.
18. Cleanse the site with an antimicrobial
swab while wiping with a firm, circular
motion and moving outward from the
injection site. Allow the skin to dry.
19. Remove the needle cap with the non-
dominant hand by pulling it straight off.
20. Use the non-dominant hand to spread
the skin taut over the injection site.
21. Hold the syringe in the dominant
hand, between the thumb and forefinger
with the bevel of the needle up.
22. Hold the syringe at a 10 to- 15-degree
angle from the site. Place the needle
almost flat against the patient’s skin,
bevel side up, and insert the needle into
the skin so that the point of the needle
can be seen through the skin. Insert the
needle only about 1/8” with entire bevel
under the skin.
23. Once the needle is in place, steady the
lower end of the syringe. Slide your
dominant hand to the edge of the
plunger.
24. Withdraw the needle quickly at the
same angle that it was inserted.
25. Do not massage area after removing
needle. Tell patient not to rub or scratch
site. If necessary, gently blot the site with
a dry gauze square. Do not apply
pressure or rub the site.
26. Do not recap the used needle. Engage
the safety shield or needle guard, if
present. Discard the needle and syringe in
the appropriate receptacle.
27. Assist the patient to a position of
comfort.
28. Remove gloves and dispose of them
properly. Perform hand hygiene.
29. Observe the area for signs of a
reaction at determined intervals after
administration. Inform the patient of the
need for inspection.
30. Document procedure to patient’s
chart.
