The student nurse reads the order to give a 1-year-old client an intra

The student nurse reads the order to give a 1-year-old client an intramuscular injection. The ap-propriate and preferred muscle to select for a child is the:

1. Deltoid
2. Dorsogluteal
3. Ventrogluteal
4. Vastus lateralis

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Research that has investigated complications associated with IM injection sites indicates that the ventrogluteal site is the preferred site for most injections given to adults and children over 7 months. The deltoid muscle is not developed enough for an IM injection in the 1-year-old client. The dorsogluteal site is not recommended because of the risk of the needle hitting the sciatic nerve. The vastus lateralis is a preferred site for infants less than 12 months old.