Final answer:
When administering an intradermal injection, the nurse should insert the needle at a 15° angle to accurately place the medication in the dermal layer of the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
When administering an intradermal injection, the nurse should insert the needle at a 15° angle.
Intradermal injections are used for various purposes such as administering vaccines or allergy tests. The shallow angle ensures that the medication is injected into the dermis, which is the layer of skin just below the epidermis. By inserting the needle at a 15° angle, the nurse can accurately place the medication in the dermal layer.
It's important for the nurse to visualize the skin to determine where to insert the needle. For example, when administering a Mantoux test, which is used to detect tuberculosis, the nurse looks for an area with a slight bump in the skin and injects the medication just below the surface at a 15° angle.