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NCLEX Question of the Day
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In an outpatient clinic, a nurse is preparing to administer a subcutaneous injection to a 45-year-old patient who is due for a routine vaccination. The patient has a dense tattoo covering the area where the injection is to be given. The patient has no known allergies or skin sensitivities. What is the best approach for the nurse to identify the appropriate injection site?
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Use a skin marker to outline a clear area on the tattoo for injection
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Correct answer Choose an adjacent, non-tattooed area for the injection
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Apply a topical anesthetic to the tattooed area before injecting
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Administer the injection through the tattooed skin as normal
Rationale
When administering a subcutaneous injection to a patient with a tattooed area, it is preferable to select an adjacent, non-tattooed area. This is to ensure clear visualization of the injection site and to avoid potential complications such as difficulty in identifying injection-related reactions (like redness or swelling) that might be obscured by the tattoo ink. Administering the injection through the tattooed skin.
"Administer the injection through the tattooed skin as normal" is not advisable as it could complicate the observation of any skin reactions. Applying a topical anesthetic is unnecessary unless the patient specifically reports pain or sensitivity issues. Using a skin marker does not address the potential difficulty in monitoring for reactions and is not a standard practice.
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