Editing Nursing Skills and Procedures – LPN Practice Questions (section)

==Question 9==
A licensed practical nurse is administering an intradermal tuberculin skin test. Which technique is correct?
# Insert the needle bevel down at a 45 degree angle and massage the site.
# Insert the needle bevel up at a 5 to 15 degree angle until a small wheal forms.
# Insert the needle at a 90 degree angle into the deltoid muscle.
# Insert the needle at a 45 degree angle into a pinched skin fold on the abdomen.

'''Answer:''' 2 (B). Insert the needle bevel up at a 5 to 15 degree angle until a small wheal forms.

''Rationale:'' Intradermal injection places a very small volume, generally 0.1 mL, just under the epidermis on the inner forearm. The needle is inserted bevel up at a nearly flat angle, and a 6 to 10 mm wheal confirms correct depth. The site is not massaged, because dispersing the medication invalidates the test. Option 3 describes an intramuscular injection and option 4 a subcutaneous injection.