Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. 67 8. Wipe the injection site with an antiseptic wipe. Using a circular motion, clean outward from injection site. 9. Allow the skin to dry before injecting the drug. Do not touch after cleaning. 10. Remove needle cover. 11. With the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand, gently stretch the skin of the injection site taut. 12. Hold the syringe in your dominant hand. Warn the patient that he/she will feel a stick or prick. 13. Insert the syringe at a 90 degree angle to the skin surface. Insert the needle quickly and deeply into the muscle. 14. Support the syringe with non-dominant hand and pull back slightly on the plunger to aspirate the blood. If no blood appears, place your dominant thumb on the plunger. Slowly and steadily inject the medication into the muscle. Note: If blood appears in the syringe on aspiration, withdraw the needle and start over. Do not inject solution which is contaminated with blood. 15. Quickly remove the needle at a 90 degree angle. 16. Use the antiseptic sponge to apply gentle pressure to the injection site. 17. Remove the antiseptic sponge. Assess injection site. 18. Reposition and cover patient. 19. Every nurse should carry a receptacle into which the entire syringe can be dropped. DOCUMENTATION: Document on the Clinical Visit Note the drug administered, dosage, date, time, route of administration and injection site used. Note the patient's tolerance to the injection or any side effects observed. If the patient or family are being taught, document all instructions given and their response. If further action is indicated, document follow-up / notification of Clinical Manager and/or physician. ____________________________________________________