Question

During a visit to the clinic, the physician prescribes an intramuscular injection of a medication for an 8-month old. When administering this medication to the infant, which of the following sites should the nurse rule out first?

a) Deltoid
b) Ventrogluteal
c) Vastus lateralis
d) Dorsogluteal

Answer 1

The nurse should rule out the deltoid site first when administering an intramuscular injection to an 8-month old. Alternative sites such as ventrogluteal, vastus lateralis, or dorsogluteal muscles are more appropriate for infants and young children.

Step-by-step explanation:

When administering medication via intramuscular injection to an 8-month old, the nurse should rule out the deltoid site first. The deltoid muscle, located in the upper arm, is typically used for injections in adults but is not recommended for infants due to the muscle size and development. The nurse should consider alternative sites such as the ventrogluteal, vastus lateralis, or dorsogluteal muscles, which are better suited for infants and young children.