ADMINISTERING INTRAMUSCULAR
INJECTION
Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Trichy
Intramuscular Injections
• Intramuscular injections deliver
medication into a muscle
• Large muscles contain large
blood vessels that allow for a
rapid uptake of the medication
by the body
• The larger muscle disperses the
medication over a few hours
Intramuscular Injections
To administer an intramuscular injection correctly
you must:
• Select the appropriate equipment
• Select the appropriate location
• Use the correct technique
Selecting the Appropriate Equipment
• Equipment required for administering an
intramuscular injection:
Disposable gloves
Sterile syringe and needle of correct size and gauge
Antimicrobial swab
2x2 gauze
Equipment
Needle Length
Based on the site for injection and patient size
• Obese patient may require a longer needle
• Extremely thin patients may require a shorter
needle
Use a 1 – 2 inch needle
Equipment
Needle Gauge
Appropriate gauge is determined by viscosity of
medication being administered
• Thick, oil based medications may require a larger
gauge
• Thinner solutions may be administered with a
smaller gauge
Use an 18 – 23 gauge needle
Selecting the Appropriate
Location
• Intramuscular Injection Sites:
Deltoid
Ventrogluteal
Vastus lateralis
Location
• Deltoid
Use landmarks and site
boundaries to locate exact
site
Find the lower edge of the
acromion process on the
upper arm
Location
The Deltoid site is 2
fingerbreadths below the
acromion process
Make an imaginary
inverted triangle at the site
and inject the needle in
the center of the triangle
Location
• Ventrogluteal
Use landmarks and
boundaries to locate the
exact site
Locate the greater
trochanter and the anterior
superior iliac spine
Location
Place the heel of your
hand over the greater
trochanter with your thumb
pointing towards the
patient’s groin
Your index finger should
point toward the anterior
superior iliac spine Ventrogluteal
Location
Your middle finger
should point towards
the iliac crest
The injection site is
located between your
index and middle
fingers
Ventrogluteal
Location
• Vastus Lateralis
Use landmarks and boundaries
to locate the exact site
Locate the patella and the
greater trochanter
The vastus lateralis is located a
handbreadth below the greater
trochanter and a handbreadth
above the patella.
Location
Divide the thigh into thirds
horizontally and vertically
The injection is given in
the outer middle third of
the muscle
Vastus Lateralis
Correct Technique
• Careful technique is important when administering
intramuscular injections in order to avoid
complications such as:
Abscesses
Injury to vessels, bones and nerves
Lingering pain
Tissue necrosis
Technique
• Administer the intramuscular
injection so that the needle is
at a 90 degree angle to the
patient’s body.
Technique
The volume of medication that can be administered
intramuscularly varies based on the intended site.
• 1 - 4 ml for the ventrogluteal and vastus lateralis
sites
• 0.5 – 1 ml for the Deltoid site
Microsoft Clip Art
Technique
Performing the Injection
1. Identify the patient by verifying name and date of birth.
2. Perform hand hygiene and apply clean gloves.
3. Select appropriate site for injection.
Technique….
4. Cleanse the injection site with an antimicrobial
swab. Use a firm, circular motion while moving
outward from the injection site. Allow to air dry.
5. Remove needle cap, hold syringe in dominate
hand, and with non-dominate hand spread skin
tightly.
Technique….
6. Inject needle quickly at a 90 degree angle into the
muscle.
7. With non-dominate hand, stabilize the syringe
barrel and move dominate hand to syringe plunger.
8. Inject the medication slowly. (10 seconds per
milliliter of medication)
Technique…..
9. Withdraw the needle quickly and smoothly.
10. Apply gentle pressure at the site with a dry 2x2
gauze.
11. Activate the needle safety device and discard the
needle and syringe in the appropriate sharps
container. Do not recap the needle!
Technique….
12. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
13. Make sure patient is safe and comfortable.
14. Document medication administration.
15. Record any unexpected outcomes.
Tips for Decreasing Pain
During Injections
• Explain the procedure to the patient.
• Encourage the patient to relax.
• Position patient.
• Do not inject into hardened or very sensitive skin.
Tips …
• Inject medication slowly. (10 seconds per milliliter of
medication)
• Maintain grasp on the needle. Do not move the
needle after it is inserted.
• Withdraw the needle quickly and smoothly.
Practice Makes Perfect
To administer an intramuscular injection correctly you
have learned to:
• Select the appropriate equipment
• Select the appropriate location
• Use the correct technique
References
• Lynn, P. (3rd). 2011. Taylor’s clinical nursing skills: A
nursing process approach. New York, NY:
Lippincott.
