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  • 1.  MA education on Z-Track injections

    Posted 10-08-2025 09:27

    Our Medical Group has an MA On-boarding program which has been very successful in reducing turn over and teaching basic skills to MA entering the job. We had a recent question about teaching Z-Track injections. I have never see this injection technique used in the Ambulatory setting. I do not want to teach a skill that will likely not be used. Has anyone used the Z-Track method for injection in their offices? Thank you



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    Holly Davis BSN, RN, AMB-BC
    Clinical Quality Coordinator
    Frederick Health Medical Group
    New Windsor MD
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  • 2.  RE: MA education on Z-Track injections

    Posted 10-08-2025 11:03

    Hello Holly,

    Z-track is used for some infectious disease medications. Our education team put together a PowerPoint on how to administer a medication via the z-track method for our annual skills a couple of years ago. There are also other medications that our pharmacy team recommends z-track method, such as some antibiotics, hormonal, and mental health medications.

     

    Thank you,

     

    J.J. Peacock, MSN-Ed., RN, AMB-BC

    Professional Development Generalist, Sentara Ambulatory Services Division

    Chair, AAACN Staff/Patient Education SIG

     

    Office: 434-654-4529

    Email: SJPEACOC@sentara.com | SASDClinEduTeam@sentara.com

    590 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 323, Charlottesville, VA 22911

     

    RQI: RQI_SASD@sentara.com | Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) (sharepoint.com)

     

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  • 3.  RE: MA education on Z-Track injections

    Posted 10-08-2025 11:14

    Outside of RNs in this specialty, do MA's ever give Z-track?



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    Holly Davis BSN, RN, AMB-BC
    Clinical Quality Coordinator
    Frederick Health Medical Group
    New Windsor MD
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: MA education on Z-Track injections

    Posted 10-08-2025 11:21

    Yes, our MAs use the z-track method for medication administration. We have a competency that they are signed off on.

     

    Thank you,

     

    J.J. Peacock, MSN-Ed., RN, AMB-BC

    Professional Development Generalist, Sentara Ambulatory Services Division

    Chair, AAACN Staff/Patient Education SIG

     

    Office: 434-654-4529

    Email: SJPEACOC@sentara.com | SASDClinEduTeam@sentara.com

    590 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 323, Charlottesville, VA 22911

     

    RQI: RQI_SASD@sentara.com | Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) (sharepoint.com)

     

    Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence

     

    Disclaimer:

    This electronic message and its contents and attachments contain information from Sentara Health and is confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. The information is intended to be for the addressee only.
    If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, copy, distribution or use of the contents of this message is prohibited. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message and all copies.



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: MA education on Z-Track injections

    Posted 10-09-2025 09:01

    Since MAs in CT can only admin vaccines (and no medications), z-track training is not really needed. (see: from ask the experts: https://www.immunize.org/ask-experts/why-air-bubbles-expelled-injected/).

    We do provide online asynchronous courses for vaccine administration though--for example a 24 hour course that our MAs take for immunizations for the new vaccinator--it includes simulations for both IM and SQ injections. This allows the MA to complete the course, and they can submit the CEU toward their MA re-certification as well. They then present the certificate to me for OLCP credentialing so that I can extend the "privilege" of administration...We have a 9 hour vaccine course that nurses take as well that review the vaccine schedule. 

    It is something that is available to other organizations through NIMAA. Not sure if that is helpful to anyone--www.nimaa.edu

    Best regards,

    Mary



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    Mary Blankson DNP APRN FNP-C FAAN
    Community Health Center, Inc.
    Middletown CT
    (860) 227-5432
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: MA education on Z-Track injections

    Posted 10-09-2025 18:04

    We use Lippincott and their "Intramuscular injection, ambulatory care" procedure states: "The Z-track technique is the preferred method for administering an IM injection. By leaving a zigzag path that seals the needle track, this technique prevents drug leakage into the subcutaneous tissue, helps to seal the drug in the muscle, and minimizes irritation." Due to that statement and our own independent research, we taught our MAs this technique a couple months ago. 

    Angela



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    Angela Hall MN RN
    Neighborhood Health Center
    Oregon City OR
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    Original Message


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