How to Administer Medication via Intravenous Injection

You might find intravenous injections challenging, but there are techniques that can help you perform the procedure correctly. Avoid attempting an IV injection unless you’ve received proper training. If you are a healthcare professional learning how to inject medication or need to administer an IV to yourself, begin by preparing the syringe. Then, locate the vein and inject the medication slowly. Always use sterile equipment, administer the drug into the bloodstream, and monitor for any post-injection complications.

Wash your hands. Before handling the medication and needle, thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and soap. Rub the soap between your hands for 20 seconds. Then, rinse with water to remove all soap and dry your hands completely using a clean towel or paper towel.

• To minimize the risk of infection or illness, it’s recommended to wear sterile disposable gloves. Gloves may not always be necessary, but they might be required in medical environments.
• If you need to time your hand washing, hum the 'Happy Birthday' song twice. This takes around 20 seconds.

Insert the needle into the medication vial and pull the plunger. Take a clean, unused syringe and insert the needle into the medication vial. Pull the syringe's plunger to withdraw the required amount of medication. Only inject the exact dosage prescribed by your doctor. Do not administer more or less. Follow any additional instructions from your doctor regarding the preparation of the medication.

• Always check to ensure the medication is safe to use. The medication in the vial should not have any dirt, discoloration, or signs of damage to the vial.

Hold the syringe with the needle facing upward and expel the air. After withdrawing the required amount of medication into the syringe, rotate the syringe so the needle is pointing up. Gently tap the syringe to move any air bubbles to the top. Push the plunger just enough to expel the excess air from the syringe.

• Ensure that all air has been expelled from the syringe before administering the medication.

Place the syringe on a clean, flat surface. After expelling the air, cover the needle with the protective cap and place the syringe on a sterile surface in preparation for use. Never allow the needle to touch any unsterilized surface.

• If the needle falls or you accidentally touch it, you must prepare a new syringe.

Have the patient drink 2-3 cups of water. When the body is properly hydrated, the blood circulates more effectively, causing the veins to become larger and more visible. It is more challenging to locate a vein in someone who is dehydrated. If you suspect dehydration, ask the person to drink 2-3 cups of water before the injection.

• Fruit juice, tea, or decaffeinated coffee can also hydrate the body.
• If the person is severely dehydrated, they may require IV fluids. Continue searching for a vein if they are unable to drink water or other fluids.

Locate the vein on the arm near the elbow. The veins in this area of the arm are the safest for injecting medication, and they are also more visible. Ask the patient which arm they prefer for the injection. Examine the arm to check for a visible vein. If no vein is visible, you will need to make the vein more prominent.

• If regular injections are necessary, alternate between both arms to avoid damaging the veins.
• Be particularly cautious when injecting into the hands or feet. Veins here are often visible but are fragile and can easily rupture, causing more pain. If the patient has diabetes, avoid injecting into the feet as it can be dangerous.
• Never inject into the neck, head, groin, or wrists! These areas contain large arteries, and injections here can lead to overdose, limb amputation, or even death.

Wrap a tourniquet around the arm to bring the vein to the surface. Wrap an elastic tourniquet about 5-10 cm above the injection site. Use a simple knot or tuck the ends under the wrap to secure it. If injecting into the inner elbow, make sure to place the tourniquet just above the bicep instead of directly above the vein.

• The tourniquet should be easy to remove. Never use a belt or a stiff fabric as it could damage the vein.
• If the vein is still difficult to find, consider placing the tourniquet on the shoulder to help push blood down the arm.

Instruct the patient to clench and release their fist. You may give them a medical ball to squeeze and release several times. Observe whether the vein becomes more prominent after 30-60 seconds.

Press your finger onto the vein. Once the vein is located, gently press a finger onto it. Move the finger up and down for 20-30 seconds. This will help the vein expand and become more visible.

• Do not press too hard! Apply light pressure to help guide the vein.

Apply a warm compress to the area if the vein is still not visible. A warm compress will help the vein dilate and become more visible. To warm the injection site, microwave a damp towel for 15-30 seconds, then place it over the vein. You can also soak the area in warm water.

• Other ways to warm the body include drinking hot beverages like tea or coffee, or taking a warm bath.
• Never inject medication into a person who is soaking in a bathtub. Depending on the medication's effects, they may be at risk of drowning.

After locating the vein, clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol. Ensure the area to be injected is properly sanitized before administering the medication. Once you have identified a usable vein, use alcohol to cleanse that area.

• If sterile alcohol pads are unavailable, dip a sterile cotton ball in isopropyl alcohol to clean the injection site.

Insert the needle into the vein at a 45-degree angle to the arm. Remove the needle cap and carefully insert the needle into the vein at the chosen injection site. The needle should be inserted in the same direction as the blood flow. Since veins transport blood to the heart, you should inject the medication in the direction toward the heart. Make sure the bevel of the needle is facing upward when inserting the needle.

• If you're unsure about the needle placement or have any doubts, consult a doctor or nurse before performing the intravenous injection.
• Only administer the medication once you are certain about the vein to be used. Injecting intravenous medication into other parts of the body can be dangerous and potentially fatal.

Pull the plunger back to confirm the needle is in the vein. Gently pull the plunger back slightly and observe if blood is drawn into the syringe. If no blood appears, this indicates that the needle is not properly positioned in the vein, and you need to remove the needle and try again. If blood is drawn, it means you've successfully located the vein, and you can proceed to the next step.

• If blood spurts out forcefully, is bright red, and bubbles, this means you have accidentally punctured an artery. Immediately withdraw the needle and apply pressure to the site for at least 5 minutes to stop the bleeding. Be extra cautious if you've punctured the brachial artery inside the elbow, as excessive blood loss can impair hand function. Retry with a new needle once bleeding has stopped.

Remove the tourniquet before injecting the medication. If you have applied a tourniquet before inserting the needle, you must remove it at this stage. Injecting with the tourniquet still in place can cause the vein to rupture.

• If the patient is holding their hand in a fist, ask them to relax their hand.

Slowly press the plunger to inject the medication into the vein. It is essential to administer the medication slowly to avoid putting excessive pressure on the vein. Press the plunger at a steady, controlled pace until the medication is completely injected into the body.

Carefully withdraw the needle and apply pressure to the injection site. After administering the medication, gently remove the needle and immediately apply pressure to the injection site. Place a gauze or cotton pad on the injection site for 30-60 seconds to stop the bleeding.

• If bleeding persists and cannot be controlled, call emergency services.

Bandage the injection site. Apply a sterile gauze pad to the injection site, then secure it with medical tape to keep the gauze in place. This step helps maintain pressure on the site after you remove your finger.

• Once the injection site is bandaged, the medication administration process is complete.

Seek medical attention for emergency situations. There are several complications that require attention after administering medication. You may notice issues immediately after the injection or within the following days. Seek medical care immediately if:

• You accidentally puncture an artery and cannot stop the bleeding.
• The injection site becomes hot, red, and swollen.
• You inject the medication into the leg, and it becomes painful, swollen, or immobile.
• An abscess forms at the injection site.
• Your arm or leg turns white and feels cold after the injection.
• You accidentally prick yourself with a needle that has been used on someone else.

• If you plan to inject drugs, seek assistance. Talk to friends or family to ask for their help.
• Do not inject yourself or others unless you have received proper training. Injecting into a vein carries more risks than injecting into a muscle or under the skin.
• Only inject medications that are prescribed by a doctor.

• Warm, damp cloth (optional)
• Medical ball (optional)
• Soap
• Water
• Clean paper towels
• Disposable medical gloves
• Prescription medication
• Sterile syringes and needles
• Rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl)
• Sterile cotton balls
• Tourniquet
• Sterile gauze
• Medical tape