Medication Administration

NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-PN
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Matrix
Difficulty 2 of 5

Question

For each procedural injection characteristic, indicate whether it applies to the subcutaneous route or the intramuscular route.

Row	Subcutaneous route	Intramuscular route
Using a 90-degree insertion angle with the Z-track technique	Not correct	✓ Correct
Selecting a short needle (approximately 0.5 to 0.625 inches) directed into adipose tissue	✓ Correct	Not correct
Administering a volume of up to 2 to 3 mL in an adult	Not correct	✓ Correct
Rotating injection sites across the abdomen at least 2 inches away from the umbilicus	✓ Correct	Not correct

Answer

Using a 90-degree insertion angle with the Z-track technique: Intramuscular route · Selecting a short needle (approximately 0.5 to 0.625 inches) directed into adipose tissue: Subcutaneous route · Administering a volume of up to 2 to 3 mL in an adult: Intramuscular route · Rotating injection sites across the abdomen at least 2 inches away from the umbilicus: Subcutaneous route

Rationale

Subcutaneous injections deposit small fluid volumes (typically 1 mL or less) into adipose layers using short needles across sites such as the abdominal wall. Intramuscular injections deliver larger fluid volumes (up to 2 to 3 mL in adult deep muscles) using 1- to 1.5-inch needles at a 90-degree angle, with the Z-track method recommended to prevent medication leakage back into subcutaneous tissue.

RememberMatch injection angle, needle length, and volume to the subcutaneous or intramuscular tissue layer.

Sources

Sources marked “Adapted from” are licensed under CC BY 4.0. We changed the material: its facts are rewritten into an original question, answer options and rationale. The original authors and publishers do not endorse SwipeExam.

Adapted from Open RN Nursing Skills, 2nd edition: Chapter 18 Administration of Parenteral Medications Open RN (Chippewa Valley Technical College) · License: CC BY 4.0 · Retrieved November 2, 2026 · ADMINISTERING INTRAMUSCULAR MEDICATIONS › Z-track Method for IM injections · 2nd edition, 2023

Last verified: November 4, 2026 2 independent automated checks Question rn-ppt-02273, version 1

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