Subcutaneous Injection

You need to make sure that you are looking at the current research- There is no indication to aspirate for subcutaneous injections. You also need to be aware that we never aspirated blood thinners (like heparin and lovenox) or insulins. You might want to investigate further before practicing the way you are being taught by other nurses.

In my classes I am taking we are told to aspirate to make sure we haven't gone into a vein. I have asked nurses and they said aspiration is needed for IM and Sub-Q injections. You don't need to aspirate in the ID

Yes- You only aspirate for IMs because of the vasculature of the muscles- In the subcutaneous layer it is mostly adipose tissue so there is no need to aspirate.

you only aspirate on IMs only right?. there are nerves and vessels on the muscular area.

thank you so much it's really help ful for nursing student like me

This is accurate & correct technique as it is outlined in the major foundations textbooks for nursing. Needle length is selected based on the size person and a darting motion is used to get through the nerves in the dermal layers quickly. Since needles are single use there is low risk of breakage
Aspiration was never indicated with insulins or blood thinners and it is no longer recommended to aspirate with any subcutaneous injections. There are no major vessels in the subcutaneous layer.

Umm, thats bad technique. You shouldn't insert the whole needle into the subcutaneous layer. If the needle breaks, then retrieving it will be very difficult. So ideally, 2/3 in only. And again, draw back before you inject to ensure you are not in an artery.

I have heard some nurses say that they do aspirate sub-q's, and some say that they do not. I've seen different books instruct it both ways as well. Then I heard one nurse say that only certain meds are aspirated sub-q. Even the nursing instructors at my school disagree over this! Although most of them say that you should *not* aspirate any sub-q injection.

Okay. Thank you!

No it doesn't. The most important things are maintaining the needle in the subcutaneous tissue and needle stabilization.