Question

The nurse is planning to administer an intramuscular injection of vitamin K to a newborn. To administer the injection, which site should the nurse select?

A. Deltoid muscle
B. Vastus lateralis muscle
C. Gluteal muscle
D. Subcutaneous tissue in the thigh

Answer 1

For an intramuscular injection of vitamin K in a newborn, the vastus lateralis muscle is the best site to choose due to its size and safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

To administer an intramuscular injection of vitamin K to a newborn, the nurse should select the vastus lateralis muscle as the preferred site. The vastus lateralis muscle, located on the side of the thigh, is one of the most commonly used sites for intramuscular injections in infants due to its large muscle mass and distance from major nerves and blood vessels. The deltoid muscle is not typically used in newborns due to its small size at this age. The gluteal muscle is generally avoided in infants and young children because of the risk of damaging the sciatic nerve and because it is less developed. Furthermore, subcutaneous tissue in the thigh is not the correct choice as vitamin K requires intramuscular administration to be absorbed effectively.