The nurse is preparing to administer furosemide IM to a 6-month-old client with edema. Which location is the preferred injection site for this client?

  • the gluteus medius
  • the vastus lateralis
  • the dorsogluteal site
  • the ventrogluteal muscle
Number 2 is correct.
The vastus lateralis is the preferred injection site for babies under 7 months of age. It may be used from birth to adulthood. The gluteus medius and the ventrogluteal site should be used only in infants older than 7 months. The dorsogluteal site should not be used for injections due to the risk of damaging the sciatic nerve and puncturing blood vessels.