Selecting syringes

How do you experienced nurses select a syringe for injections that aren't pre-filled? I'm halfway through nursing school, and as yet have only given insulin and Lovenox injections, which either have their own syringes or come pre-filled. Although we got a lecture in class about the sizes of syringes, I've never had to actually choose my own, and I'm afraid I have no idea which to pick! I think a 1 to 1 1/2-inch is probably right for an IM, in general, right? But what gauge? The higher the gauge number, the skinnier the needle, correct? Does anyone have a good site that has a "how to select the correct syringe" tutorial? Thanks!
IMs generally use a 1-1.5 inch needle with a larger gauge something like 22-23SQ is 5/8ths of an inch and around a 25-27 gaugeHowever, these can vary depending on how big your patient is and whether you are giving injections to a peds patient. My nursing instructor gave us a great handout regarding choosing needles. It's at http://www.immunize.org/handouts/needle-safety.asp.

I think you're asking about needle size and not syringe size am I right? Syringe size depends on what volume of medication you're giving 1cc, 3cc, 5cc, 10cc, etc., As for needle size you can always ask a coworker but sometimes they may not know the "official" answer so it's always a good idea to check the policy and procedure manual for little technical things like this. Most places I've been haven't had a really wide assortment. For example where I work as a paramedic has 19g and 25g needles both of which are 1 1/2" long (we also have tuberculin syringes with needles on them). I usually end up using the 19g because the 25g seem too small and flimsy for anything but a small child.

Quote from ScrubmouseIMs generally use a 1-1.5 inch needle with a larger gauge something like 22-23SQ is 5/8ths of an inch and around a 25-27 gaugeHowever, these can vary depending on how big your patient is and whether you are giving injections to a peds patient. My nursing instructor gave us a great handout regarding choosing needles. It's at http://www.immunize.org/handouts/needle-safety.asp.

OP, you will find a syringe to accommodate the amount of fluid medication you need to inject. Keep in mind some meds must be diluted first, which adds to the total volume and would make you select a higher volume capacity syringe than you had first thought. In hospital you won't need to deal with needles to directly inject the patient too much excepting insulin and that one you might have an insulin pen or vaccinations, etc. When you do get something that you need to inject direct into the patient, you will need to select that needle and screw it on to your selected syringe. There should be some reference for you in one of your books? If not google or youtube can bring up some charts and how tos. Relax, you can just glance at an arm for IM and get an idea of what is too short and what is too long of a needle after a while. Just grab the injection area with your hand to feel how much "meat" is there. You dont' want to hit bone, that hurts.

Quote from SpEdtacularI think you're asking about needle size and not syringe size am I right?

Quote from ScrubmouseIMs generally use a 1-1.5 inch needle with a larger gauge something like 22-23SQ is 5/8ths of an inch and around a 25-27 gaugeHowever, these can vary depending on how big your patient is and whether you are giving injections to a peds patient. My nursing instructor gave us a great handout regarding choosing needles. It's at http://www.immunize.org/handouts/needle-safety.asp.

Quote from SpEdtacularI think you're asking about needle size and not syringe size am I right? Syringe size depends on what volume of medication you're giving 1cc, 3cc, 5cc, 10cc, etc., As for needle size you can always ask a coworker but sometimes they may not know the "official" answer so it's always a good idea to check the policy and procedure manual for little technical things like this. Most places I've been haven't had a really wide assortment. For example where I work as a paramedic has 19g and 25g needles both of which are 1 1/2" long (we also have tuberculin syringes with needles on them). I usually end up using the 19g because the 25g seem too small and flimsy for anything but a small child.

Skinny people get the shorter needles.

The size of the syringe you use also depends on what is stocked in the med room at the precise moment that you need it ... While it seems most efficient to use the smallest syringe which will hold the volume of medication being given ... there's nothing inherently wrong about grabbing a 10mL syringe to give 1mL of med.Needle sizes ... the length is determined by the type of injection (IM or SQ) and the size of the patient. The guage ... depends on the med being given. Generally the smallest needle (highest guage) which will accomodate the med.

Quote from AltraGenerally the smallest needle (highest guage) which will accomodate the med.

Just thought I'd add that, if you end up working in a hospital after nursing school, you may not have to give injections all that often -- in hospital settings, most meds are given IV or PO, not that many are given IM or SC. You've already had practice with the two exceptions, namely insulin and lovenox. When I worked in a peds hospital, I very occasionally gave flu vaccines, especially during the height of the H1N1 epidemic. I also very occasionally gave antibiotics IM, but only if the kid had lost their IV, multiple unsuccessful attempts had been made to place a new one, they only needed another dose or two or three of an IV antibiotic that could also be given IM, and the doctor felt that there weren't any PO antibiotics that could be used as an alternative (this may have happened a total of 3 or 4 times in the 1.5 years I worked there).For kids, the largest volume injection we ever gave IM or SC was 1 ml. If they needed a volume larger than 1 ml, we would divide the dose and give multiple injections.Good luck with your studies!

OP, you can usually tip the vial or what ever, to judge the viscosity of the med. Think of a skinny coffee stir type straw (those little red or brown ones), how it'd be if you tried to use one to suck up a milkshake.