Parenteral Routes, Syringe Types, and Insulin Administration

Vocabulary flashcards covering parenteral administration routes, injection sites, syringe calibrations, safety features, and insulin types with their action profiles.

Intradermal Injection

An injection that administers small amounts of fluid (usually less than $0.1\,\text{mL}$) into the dermis at a $5^\circ$ to $15^\circ$ angle with the bevel up, forming a bleb below the epidermis.

Subcutaneous Injection

An injection administered into the tissue just below the dermis at a $45^\circ$ or $90^\circ$ angle depending on skin fold width, commonly used for insulin and anticoagulants.

Intramuscular (IM) Injection

An injection delivered at a $90^\circ$ angle directly into muscle tissue, which has greater vascularity for faster absorption of larger or more viscous medication volumes.

Z-track Method

An intramuscular injection technique that prevents leakage of medication into subcutaneous tissue, seals the medication into the muscle, and minimizes client discomfort.

Ventrogluteal Muscle Site

The preferred IM injection site for adults and children, located using the palm on the greater trochanter, index finger on the anterior superior iliac spine, and middle finger under the iliac crest.

Vastus Lateralis Muscle Site

An IM injection site on the anterolateral thigh that is the preferred location for immunizations in infants, toddlers, and young children.

Deltoid Muscle Site

An IM injection site located $3\text{ to }5\,\text{cm}$ ($1\text{ to }2\,\text{in}$) below the acromion process in the upper arm, used for maximum volume limits of $1\text{ to }2\,\text{mL}$.

Tuberculin Syringe

A narrow syringe calibrated in hundredths of a milliliter (holding $0.3\text{ to }1\,\text{mL}$) used to measure and administer very small volumes of medication.

Active Safety Device

A syringe safety mechanism that requires the nurse to manually activate it after use, such as pushing a lever upward, to prevent needlestick injuries.

Passive Safety Device

A syringe safety feature that requires no manual action by the nurse, automatically retracting the needle into the barrel after injection.

Ampule

A small glass or plastic bottle with a constricted neck that must be broken to access the liquid medication inside.

Rapid-acting Insulin

Clear insulin with an onset of $15\text{ to }30\,\text{minutes}$, peak of $0.5\text{ to }1\,\text{hour}$, and duration of $3\text{ to }5\,\text{hours}$, usually taken right before meals.

Regular- or Short-acting Insulin

Clear insulin with an onset of $30\text{ to }60\,\text{minutes}$, peak of $2\text{ to }4\,\text{hours}$, and duration of $4\text{ to }12\,\text{hours}$, taken $30\text{ to }60\,\text{minutes}$ before meals and usable intravenously.

Intermediate-acting Insulin

Cloudy suspension insulin (NPH) with an onset of $1\text{ to }2\,\text{hours}$, peak of $4\text{ to }12\,\text{hours}$, and duration of $14\text{ to }24\,\text{hours}$, requiring gentle agitation prior to drawing up.

Long-acting Insulin

Insulin (such as glargine U-100 or detemir) with an onset of $2\text{ to }4\,\text{hours}$, minimal peak, and duration up to $24\,\text{hours}$ that cannot be mixed with other insulins.

Ultra-long-acting Insulin

Insulin (such as glargine U-300 or degludec) with an onset of $1\,\text{hour}$, peak of $12\,\text{hours}$, and duration of $24\text{ to }42\,\text{hours}$, provided in pre-filled syringes/pens only.

Premixed Insulin

A combination product containing intermediate-acting insulin and short- or rapid-acting insulin, with an onset of $5\text{ to }60\,\text{minutes}$ and duration of $10\text{ to }16\,\text{hours}$.

U-100 Insulin

Standard insulin concentration containing $100\,\text{units}$ of insulin per milliliter of solution, administered using syringes marked with orange caps.

U-500 Insulin

Concentrated insulin containing $500\,\text{units}$ per milliliter for clients with severe insulin resistance, given subcutaneously only using syringes with green caps.

Insulin Pump

A small external device that continuously delivers rapid-acting insulin subcutaneously over $24\,\text{hours}$ at a set basal rate, allowing user-programmed bolus doses.

Main Insulin Types Chart

Reference chart outlining onset, peak time, duration, and administration methods for rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, and ultra-long-acting insulins.

Premixed Insulin Profile Chart

Reference chart listing the onset, peak variability, duration, and timing recommendations for premixed insulin combinations.