Hamidiye Faculty of Nursing, University of Health Sciences

Drug administration is a common nursing clinical intervention. The nurse ensures patient safety by using compatible administration techniques and being aware of the side effects of medications. Pharmacological agents such as heparins, vaccines, insulin, hormone drugs, etc., are generally inappropriate with oral, intravenous or intamuscular intake. Thereupon, they have to be administered by means of subcutaneous (SC) injection. Subcutaneous medications are injected into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle that is called subcutaneous tissue where does not have a rich blood supply. Suitable areas for subcutaneous injction application are the lateral aspect of the upper arms, posterior aspect of the upper arms, anterior surface of the thigh, unders the scapulas and abdomen in the umbilical region. For the reason that abdominal region has an excess subcutaneous fat tissue, enough space for repeated injections and less muscle activity, it is highly preferred for subcutaneous injections. The angle of entry of the needle into the tissue depends on the needle length and the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue mass. A 90-degree angle is used if the subcutaneous tissue thicknes is about 5 cm. However, when it is 2.5 cm the angle of a 45-degree angle is recommended. To check whether the needle tip is in the vein or not during the application causes the needle movement in the tissue that then results in vascular damage, bleeding, ecchymosis and hematoma formation. Airlock technique in subcutaneous inections is recommended as it ensures that the entire drug is delivered to the tissue as well as preventing the escape of the drug.