The nurse is giving an IM injection. Upon aspiration, the nurse ...

[ishan]

The nurse is giving an IM injection. Upon aspiration, the nurse notices blood return in the syringe. What should the nurse do?
 
  a. Administer the injection at a slower rate.
  b. Withdraw the needle and prepare the injection again.
  c. Pull the needle back slightly and inject the medication.
  d. Give the injection and hold pressure over the site for 3 minutes.

Question 2

A registered nurse interprets that a scribbled medication order reads 25 mg. The nurse administers 25 mg of the medication to a patient, and then discovers that the dose was incorrectly interpreted and should have been 15 mg.
 
  Who is ultimately responsible for the error?
  a. Physician
  b. Pharmacist
  c. Nurse
  d. No fault

[amynguyen1221]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Blood return upon aspiration indicates improper placement, and the injection should not be given. Instead withdraw the needle, dispose of the syringe and needle properly, and prepare the medication again. Administering the medication into a blood vessel could have dangerous adverse effects, and the medication will be absorbed faster than intended owing to increased blood flow. Holding pressure is not an appropriate intervention. Pulling back the needle slightly does not guarantee proper placement of the needle and medication administration.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Ultimately, the person administering the medication is responsible for ensuring that it is correct. The nurse administered the medication, so in this case it is the nurse. This is the importance of verifying the Six Rights of Medication Administration.