Question

A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to a 2-month-old infant. In which of the following sites should the nurse plan to administer the injection?

1) Deltoid muscle
2) Vastus lateralis muscle
3) Gluteus maximus muscle
4) Biceps brachii muscle

Answer 1

The nurse should administer the intramuscular injection to a 2-month-old infant in the vastus lateralis muscle, which is located on the lateral aspect of the thigh.

Step-by-step explanation:

When administering an intramuscular injection to a 2-month-old infant, the recommended site is the vastus lateralis muscle, which is one of the quadricep muscles located on the lateral aspect of the thigh. This muscle is preferred for infants due to its large muscle mass and distance from major nerves and blood vessels, which makes it safer for injections. The deltoid muscle is generally not used in infants due to its small size, and the gluteus maximus muscle is often avoided for intramuscular injections in children due to the risk of damaging the sciatic nerve. The biceps brachii muscle is also not commonly utilized for intramuscular injections.