Question

For which rationale,When administering a Z-track injection, does the nurse measure the correct medication dose and then draw a small amount of air into the syringe?

a) To prevent air bubbles in the injection site.
b) To increase the injection site's absorption rate.
c) To minimize pain during the injection process.
d) Adding air prevents the drug from flowing back into the needle track.

Answer 1

The purpose of drawing a small amount of air into the syringe when administering a Z-track injection is to prevent the medication from flowing back into the needle track after the injection, thereby sealing the medication in the muscle.

Step-by-step explanation:

When administering a Z-track injection, the nurse draws a small amount of air into the syringe after measuring the correct medication dose for a specific reason. The correct rationale is d) Adding air prevents the drug from flowing back into the needle track. This method is used to seal the medication in the muscle and prevent it from leaking into the subcutaneous tissue, which could cause irritation or change the absorption rate of the medication. Although not specifically mentioned in the options provided, Z-track injections also are designed to minimize tissue irritation by ensuring that the medication is deeply embedded in muscle tissue and does not come into contact with the subcutaneous tissue as it might when using standard injection methods.