Video report:
Intramuscular (IM) administration medication means any medication via a syringe into a deep muscle. In most cases, a patient needs intramuscular medication administration because of certain medical requirements. For an instance, a medication should be administered via the muscles as the medication is better absorbed in these kinds of tissue. This report will explain how I practiced this essential skill and what the general observations of my actions are. It will also assess and state how a nurse or nursing aide can improve in this specific skill for more acts in the hospital or clinical setting (Rebeiro et al, 2014, p.128-132).
I performed hand hygiene (social handwash) at the beginning of the video. I adhered to the “five moments for hand washing” as it is very critical in any clinical or hospital setting. The patient was given the necessary privacy on or before the act. The doctor’s medical comments / chart were evaluated including the medications. The dose, formulation, strength and frequency of administration should all be checked and considered prior to IM administration (Australia College of Nursing, 2008, p.1-6).
As per Australia College of Nursing, nurses should ensure that they have confirmed all the documentation of the patient and medications before administering any drug. The rationale for a good IM administration is to first ensure the correct administration of the medication. To be able to do that, the following should be done: (1) check for the medication’s expiry and manufacturing date to ensure potency and efficacy; (2) determine the size of the syringe and needles for injection; and (3) reduce the transmission of microorganisms (Rebeiro et al, 2014, p.126). In the video, I was able to do all of these tasks. Generally, I feel that we should always follow this as it is necessary or vital in the IM administration.
For IM administration, we should also assess for factors such as muscle atrophy, reduced blood flow and or circulatory shock as these events may affect the accuracy of the shot. These would also ensure prevention of possible injury to the patient (Rebeiro et al, 2014, p.130). In the video, I checked the patient’s demographics and medical history on or before the IM administration. After I performed the IM administration in the correct site, I disposed the trashes in their right place.
Reference List:
Australia College of Nursing, 2008, Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia, Nursing & Midwifery of Australia, pp. 1-6.
Rebeiro et al, 2014, Fundamentals of Nursing; Clinical Skills Workbook, 2nd edn, Elsevier Australia.
Tollefson, J., 2012, clinical psychomotor skills: assessment skills for nurses, 5th edn, Cengage learning.
Sultan Qaboos University, 2014. [pdf] Available at: http://www.squ.edu.om/ Portals/120/skills%20lab/Nursing_Skills_Training_Models.pdf [Accessed 17 May 2014].
Mosby’s Suite, 2014. Available at: http://www.confidenceconnected.com/products/mosbys_skills/overview/ [Accessed 17 May 2014].
