Massaging an anticoagulant injection site
NCLEX-RN glossary · Pharmacological And Parenteral Therapies
Definition
The contraindicated nursing action of rubbing the skin after a subcutaneous injection of heparin or enoxaparin.
Massaging an anticoagulant injection site in plain English
It causes localized tissue trauma that increases the risk of hematoma, ecchymosis, and inconsistent drug absorption. A frequent error is following the folklore that massage helps the medication 'absorb faster' or 'distribute better' in the subcutaneous tissue.
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