Pediatric intramuscular injections: guidelines for best practice.

The administration of injections is a fundamental nursing skill; however, it is not without risk. Children receive numerous vaccines, and pediatric nurses administer the majority of these vaccines via the intramuscular route, and thus must be knowledgeable about safe and evidence-based immunization programs. Nurses may not be aware of the potential consequences associated with poor injection practices, and historically have relied on their basic nursing training or the advice of colleagues as a substitute for newer evidence about how to administer injections today. Evidence-based nursing practice requires pediatric nurses to review current literature to establish best practices and thus improved patient outcomes.