When giving a medication using the ACK track method you need to pull the skin to the side before inserting the needle?
Time to Read: About 6 minutes This information will help you learn how to give yourself a subcutaneous (SUB-kyoo-TAY-nee-us)
injection (shot) using a prefilled syringe. A subcutaneous injection is an injection that’s given under your skin. A prefilled syringe is a syringe that comes with medication inside. Your healthcare provider will show you how to give yourself the injection. You can use the information in this resource to remember how to do it when you’re at home. How you store your prefilled syringes depends on the medication inside them. Most medications are stored at room temperature, but some need to be kept in the refrigerator. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to store your syringes. Don’t store your
prefilled syringes in the freezer or leave them in direct sunlight. If you have questions about how to store or carry your prefilled syringes when you travel, talk with your healthcare provider. If the medication inside a syringe freezes, put the syringe near the front of the refrigerator or on the shelves inside the refrigerator door so it can thaw. If it freezes more than once, don’t use it. Call your healthcare
provider for further instructions. Place your supplies on a clean, flat surface (such as a table or countertop). You’ll need: Check the medication: If the medication name or dose doesn’t match what your healthcare
provider prescribed, the medication is expired, or the medication is foamy, discolored, cloudy, or has crystals, don’t use the syringe. If you have another, use that one instead. Then, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist to tell them. You may be able to bring the full syringe to your pharmacy so they can replace it. Choose an injection site (place on your body to give the injection) where you can pinch a 1 to 2-inch (2.5 to
5-centimeter) fold of skin. It’s best to use one of the following areas (see Figure 1): If your healthcare provider tells you to use a certain injection site, follow their instructions. Some
medications work better if they’re injected into a certain area. Don’t inject into an area that’s tender, red, bruised, hard, or that has scars or stretch marks. Figure 1. Injection sites Give the injection in a different area each time. It’s helpful to use a notebook or calendar to keep track. Injecting in the same spot each time will make scar tissue form. This can keep the medication from working like it’s supposed to. It will also make it hard to put the needle into your skin. Once you choose an injection site, follow the instructions below.
Give yourself the injection
Read the resource How to Store and Get Rid of Your Home Medical Sharps for information about choosing a sharps container and disposing of your used syringes and other home medical sharps. Back to topWhen to Call Your Healthcare ProviderCall your healthcare provider if:
When giving a medication using the track method you need to pull the skin to the side before inserting the needle?Using the Z-track technique, the skin is pulled laterally, away from the injection site, before the injection; then the medication is injected, the needle is withdrawn, and the skin is released. This method can be used if the overlying tissue can be displaced (Lynn, 2011).
What action should the nurse take when giving an intramuscular injection using the Z track method?Hold it firmly about an inch away (2.54 cm) from the muscle. In the other hand, hold the needle at a 90-degree angle and insert it quickly and deeply enough to penetrate your muscle. Inject the medication. If there is no blood in the syringe, push on the plunger to inject the medication slowly into the muscle.
What is the Z track method?THE Z-TRACK METHOD of I.M. injection prevents leakage of irritating and discoloring medications (such as iron dextran) into the subcutaneous tissue. It also may be used in elderly patients who have decreased muscle mass. Lateral displacement of the skin during the injection helps seal the drug in the muscle.
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