Final answer:
The Z-track method is a technique to minimize medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue. Steps specific to this method involve adding air, injecting the medication slowly, and removing the needle immediately after injection. Contrary actions like pinching the site, massaging afterwards, and injecting quickly should be avoided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Z-track method of medication administration is a technique used to minimize leakage of the medication into the subcutaneous tissue and to reduce pain and tissue irritation. It involves displacing the skin and subcutaneous tissue before the injection and allowing it to return to its normal position after withdrawing the needle, thereby sealing the path and preventing the medication from seeping into sensitive tissues. The correct steps specific to the Z-track method include:
- Adding 0.1 to 0.3 mL of air after drawing up the correct dose - This air locks the medication in the muscle and prevents it from tracking back along the needle path into the subcutaneous tissue.
- Injecting the medication slowly - To ensure that the medication is properly deposited into the muscle and to minimize pain, the injection should not be rushed. Injection at a rate of 1 second per mL of solution is too fast for this method.
- Removal of the needle immediately after the medication is injected - This is done to prevent leakage of the medication and to ensure that the track is sealed as the tissues return to their normal position.
The actions that should not be done with the Z-track method include pinching the site throughout the procedure, massaging the site after the needle is removed, and injecting the medication quickly.