Question

A nurse is caring for an 11-month-old baby with meningitis. The physician instructs the nurse to administer medication to the infant via the parenteral route. The medication is available in an ampule.

a. Which type of needle should be used by the nurse for administering the injection? Provide reasons to support your answer.

b. How will the nurse prevent a needlestick injury when administering an injection?

c. What is the rationale for redesigning conventional syringes and needles?

d. What should the nurse do if an accidental needlestick injury occurs?

Answer 1

a. The nurse should use (23 or 25 gauge and 25mm in length) for intramuscular injection and for subcutaneous injection the nurse should use (25 or 26 gauge and 16mm in length).

b. For preventing NSI(needle stick injury)the nurse should follow the guidelines given below.

- Use personal protective equipment like wearing double pair of gloves.

- Avoid recapping, if needed use scooping method.

- Always keep an injection tray while administering any injection.

- Promote safe disposal of sharp instruments in PPC(puncture-proof container).

- Always handle sharp instruments and needles with care.

- Avoid repetitive use of a syringe, discard the single after a single-use.

c.

The rationale for redesigning conventional syringes and needles is to reduce needle stick injury which also reduces the risk of blood borne disease.

d.

If a needle stick injury occurs the nurse should follow below steps

- The nurse should first hold the wound under running water and avoid squeezing.

- wash your hands after bleeding stops.

- Avoid sucking the wound.

- Inform ward in charge and infection control nurse.

- fill-up the incident form.

- Take tetanus toxoid injection.

- Check patient serology status and do accordingly.