Determining emergency department nurses' competence and preference levels for using ventrogluteal site in administering intramuscular injections

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate emergency service nurses' competence levels and preferences for using the ventrogluteal site in administering intramuscular injections. Methods: This research was designed as a qualitative study. Data for this study were collected from 16 voluntary nurses in a hospital emergency service. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview using the interview form designed by the researchers on April 1-12, 2017. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics and content analysis were used. Results: In this study, 4 (25.0%) nurses preferred the ventrogluteal site to administer intramuscular injections, and in general, they had low competence. Eight (66.8%) of the participating nurses did not utilize ventrogluteal site often due to lack of training or knowledge on the administering intramuscular injections on ventrogluteal site. Conclusion: Nurses' competences and preference levels for using the ventrogluteal site in administering intramuscular injections were low. Training programs can be organized to meet nurses' training needs, increase their competences and improve the use of the ventrogluteal site in administering intramuscular injections.