Parenteral Medications Unit
(G)
Gauge
Hub
The element that attaches the needle to the syringe.
Point
The sharpened end of the needle.
On a needle, what is the name of the flat, slanted end?
Bevel
Intravenous (IV)
Injections are administered directly into a vein.
Injection
Is commonly called a "shot."
Which of the following is considered parenteral medication?
*An injection *Intravenous therapy *A "shot"
How much insulin is in this syringe?
35 units
At what angle are intradermal injections given?
10- to 15-degree angle
What amount of medication is in this syringe?
2.5 mL
A health care worker is asked to infuse 500 milliliters of medication into a patient over a period of 5 hours, using a 15-drip set. What is the drip rate? Use the equation Drip Rate = Milliliters of Fluid × Drip Set ÷ Minutes of Infusion.
25 drops per minute
Which of the following syringe sizes would be used to administer medication?
3 mL
At what angle are subcutaneous injections given?
45-degree angle
At what angle are intramuscular injections given?
90-degree angle
Syringes
Are available in disposable and non-disposable forms. These days, it is most common to use plastic syringes that are completely disposable.
Ampules
Are glass containers with a "stem" that hold a single dose of medication.
Vials
Are glass or plastic containers with a rubber top. They can hold either a single dose or multiple doses of medication.
In which of the following describes intramuscular injections?
Administered in the patient's muscle
Why must patients be monitored closely after an injection?
Adverse reactions can occur suddenly
Cartridge units
Are prefilled, disposable containers that contain a single dose of medication. They are inserted into non-disposable injection devices.
Needles
Attach to syringes for the administration of medication. They are available in a variety of sizes and lengths, and they may be disposable or non-disposable.
Which two vital signs must be monitored while a patient is being administered an IV?
Blood pressure and respirations
Why should diabetics rotate the site of insulin injection?
Damaged skin inhibits insulin absorption
Intravenous therapy
Drugs are administered directly into a vein.
What is the best way to avoid an accidental needlestick when you must prepare a syringe ahead of time?
Engage the safety sheath or recap the needle
What is the purpose of aspiration in administering an injection?
Ensures that the needle is not in a blood vessel
It is best to tell an anxious patient that the injection you are about to administer will be painless.
False
Parenteral medication passes through the digestive system.
False
What should you do if you need to administer an injection to a fidgety two-year-old?
Get assistance holding the child still
Why must a needle never be recapped after use?
High risk of accidental needlestick
Intradermal (ID)
Injections are administered into the dermal layer of the skin.
Intramuscular (IM)
Injections are administered into the muscular tissue below the skin.
Subcutaneous (SC)
Injections are administered just below the dermal layer of skin.
Which of the following is true of intravenous injections?
Injects small amounts of medication into bloodstream
Z-track
Intramuscular injection, the subcutaneous tissue is held to the side during administration.
Aspiration
Is a technique used to check that the needle is not in a blood vessel.
Parenteral medication
Is medication that does not pass through the digestive system.
Barrel
Is the cylinder marked with measurement calibrations and holds the medication.
Drip set
Is the number of drops it takes to equal 1 milliliter.
Plunger
Is the plastic rod with a rubber stopper that fits inside the barrel. The plunger is used to draw in and push out medication.
Tip
Is the point where the needle is attached to the syringe. Two types of tips include the slip-tip or Leur-Lok. With the slip-tip, the tip of the syringe is smooth, and the needle can be slipped on over it. With the Leur-Lok tip, the tip of the syringe is threaded, so the needed must be screwed on.
Drip rate
Is the rate at which medication drips from the IV bag into the intravenous line.
Flange
Is the rim used for guiding the plunger.
Intravenous line
Is used to administer a large amount of fluid or medication over a long period of time, drop by drop.
Why must a filter needle be used when withdrawing medication from an ampule?
It will prevent glass from being drawn into the syringe
What are two of the most common IV equipment complications?
Loose and kinked tubing
In which of the following areas can a subcutaneous injection be given?
Mid- and lower-back
What is the mathematical equation for determining drip rate?
Milliliters of Fluid × Drip Set ÷ Minutes of Infusion
Who is responsible for ordering the rate at which medication drips from an IV?
Physician
On a syringe, what is the name of the plastic rod that is used to draw and push out medication?
Plunger
Which of the following describes the z-track method of injection?
Pull surrounding tissue away from the site during administration
Intravenous administration, or IVs
Release fluids directly into the bloodstream. The effects of IVs are immediate.
Macrodrip sets
Release large drops. Typical macrodrip sets are available in 10-, 12-, or 15-drip sets. In a 10-drip set, it takes 10 drops to equal 1 milliliter. But in a 15-drip set, it takes 15 drops to equal 1 milliliter. The size of the drop decreases as the drip set increases.
Microdrip sets
Release much smaller drops of fluid. In a microdrip set, it takes 60 drops to equal 1 milliliter. Microdrip sets are used to limit the volume of medication that is infused into the patient.
How can an air bubble be expelled from a syringe?
Tap barrel and push plunger to release
Bevel
The flat, slanted end of the needle.
Which of the following is true of needles?
The higher the gauge, the smaller the diameter
Lumen
The hollow opening at the end of the needle.
Shaft
The hollow steel tube
What is drip set?
The number of drops it takes to equal 1 milliliter.
When gathering IV equipment, it is important to maintain the sterility of the equipment.
True
