Injections in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Injection procedures in skilled nursing facilities are essential for managing pain, inflammation, and joint dysfunction among elderly residents. This chapter reviews common reasons for joint and soft-tissue injections, including osteoarthritis, bursitis, and neuropathic pain syndromes. It offers guidance on preparation, technique, and aftercare, focusing on infection control, anatomical precision, and patient comfort. Both diagnostic and therapeutic methods are covered, along with best practices for documentation and follow-up. Designed for clinicians working in post-acute and long-term care settings, this resource supports safe, effective, and evidence-based injection techniques that improve mobility, lessen pain, and enhance quality of life for residents.
Resources for Injections
Below, you will find a curated selection of links and tools that complement the chapter on Injection Procedures in Skilled Nursing Facilities. These resources provide evidence-based information on injection techniques, infection prevention, medication safety, and joint and soft tissue management in older adults. They include clinical guidelines, training materials, and quality standards designed to help nurses, rehabilitation physicians, and interdisciplinary teams perform safe and effective procedures. Whether you're refining your injection skills, updating protocols, or improving staff education, these materials offer practical and reliable guidance to enhance outcomes and resident comfort.
Safe Injection Practices in Healthcare Settings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Outlines comprehensive guidelines for preventing infection and transmission of bloodborne pathogens during injections. Topics include single-use vials, needle safety, and aseptic preparation in long-term care and outpatient settings.
https://www.cdc.gov/injectionsafety/
Joint and Soft Tissue Injection Techniques
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Provides procedural guidance for intra-articular and soft-tissue injections, covering indications, contraindications, anatomical landmarks, and proper technique to reduce pain and complications.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2002/0715/p283.html
Injection Safety and Medication Administration in Long-Term Care
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Features safety toolkits and staff training modules focused on injection practices, sterile technique, and medication administration in nursing home environments.
https://www.ahrq.gov/nursing-home/materials/prevention/im-injections.html
Intra-Articular and Periarticular Injections
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Summarizes peer-reviewed evidence on corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections for joint and musculoskeletal disorders, including procedural considerations and safety profiles in older adults.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25768070/
Ultrasound-Guided Injection Procedures
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)
Describes protocols for performing ultrasound-guided injections to improve accuracy, safety, and patient comfort, with a focus on musculoskeletal and peripheral nerve procedures.
https://www.aium.org/resources/guidelines/musculoskeletal.pdf