Question

The physician orders enoxaparin sodium 50 mg SC qd. The pharmacy sends enoxaparin sodium 100 mg/mL. The nurse should administer mL each day. What route is this medication to be administered? What size needle would you use?

Answer 1

Drug calculation:

Physician order Enoxaparin sodium 50mg SC qd (qd means one in a day)

Available dose of enoxaparin sodium is 100mg

Quantity of drug = 1mL

Amount of drug = Ordered dose / Desired dose X Quantity in mL

= 50 / 100 X 1

= 0.5mL

the nurse should administer 0.5mL each day.

The route of administration is subcutaneous just under the skin. While administering skin should be pinched and the needle should be inserted at 45 degrees so that the medication is administered into the fatty layer. Do not massage the site after injection to prevent hematoma.

the appropriate needle size for subcutaneous injection is 25 to 26 gauge needle to prevent tissue trauma.