A nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin subcutaneously to a client using a prefilled syringe. The nurse should plan to use which of the following techniques when administering this medication?

Choice A rationale:

Injecting the medication at least 5 cm (2 in) from the umbilicus is not a standard guideline for IM injections. The site of injection depends on factors such as the volume of medication and patient’s age and muscle mass.

Choice B rationale:

Using the Z-track technique to administer the medication is correct. This technique helps to seal the medication in muscle tissue, reducing leakage into subcutaneous tissue.

Choice C rationale:

Giving the medication without aspirating prior to injection is not recommended. Aspiration ensures that the needle is not in a blood vessel before injecting.

Choice D rationale:

Administering the medication with a 27-gauge '/,-inch needle may not be appropriate for an IM injection, especially for adults. A longer and larger gauge needle is typically used for IM injections.

Choice A rationale:

“Inject the medication into the subcutaneous tissue of your abdomen.” This is correct because exenatide is a type of medication that needs to be injected subcutaneously for it to be absorbed into the body properly.

Choice B rationale:

“Discard excess medication after 60 days.” This statement is incorrect because exenatide pens are usually good for 30 days after the first use.

Choice C rationale:

“Take the medication at bedtime.” This is incorrect because exenatide should be taken within 60 minutes before the morning and evening meal.

Choice D rationale:

“Contact the provider if you experience unexplained muscle pain.” While this is generally good advice when starting any new medication, muscle pain is not a common side effect of exenatide.