RN Exam Practice
Pharmacological and Parenteral TherapiesQuestion 354 of 2368

A nurse has withdrawn the needle after a subcutaneous heparin injection. Which action should the nurse take?

  1. Massage the site for one minute to disperse the drug
  2. Apply a warm pack to the site to reduce any bruising
  3. Apply gentle pressure and do not massage the site
  4. Recap the needle before placing it in the sharps box
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Correct answer: Apply gentle pressure and do not massage the site

Massaging after heparin can cause a hematoma, so only gentle pressure is used.

Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Administration of Parenteral Medications: Description of Procedure. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026