How to Give Intramuscular Injections to Pediatric Patients

Giving medication to pediatric patients can be challenging. Sometimes it's because they don't understand the need for the medication or just simply don't want it. Pediatric patients may have traumatic experiences when it comes to receiving injections. When giving medication by injection, safety is a top priority; therefore, it is important to use the right techniques.

Things You'll Need

• Syringe
• Needle
• Medication
• Gloves
• Alcohol Swabs
• Cotton balls
• Bandages

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Instructions

How to Give Intramuscular Injections to Pediatric Patients

• 1

  Assess the child's previous experience with receiving injections. This will give you an idea of what to expect and how to prepare him for the injection. If you are a medical caregiver, ask his parents if he has allergies to any medication and what his allergic reaction was. Make sure he is not allergic to the medication you are about to give.

• 2

  Prepare the medication. Pick the right syringe and needle for the injection. Pull the medication into the syringe. Gather the supplies you will need to give the injection, including alcohol swabs, cotton balls and bandages. Decide on what body part you will give the injection.

• 3

  Explain the procedure to the child if it is age appropriate and his parents. Show him where you will give him the injection and tell him why he is getting it. If the child has any questions, answer them truthfully, without causing any fear.

• 4

  Ask your patient's parent or another nurse to hold your patient and put on your gloves. Wipe the area where you will give the injection with alcohol swabs, wait for the area to dry and position the needle at a 90 degree angle. Holding the syringe like a dart, quickly insert it into the skin, then aspirate. To aspirate, make sure the syringe is steady, then pull out the plunger and look at the chamber of the syringe as you do this. There should be no blood in the syringe chamber. If there is no blood, give the injection. If there is blood, do not give the injection. Instead, get a new syringe and start over.

• 5

  Withdraw the syringe and massage the site with a cotton ball. Put a band aid over the injection site. After the injection, comfort the child by cuddling or giving praise for good behavior.