ABSTRACT
Identification of safe injections sites is a skill practised routinely by nurses, which, as with all nursing practice, is informed by empirical evidence. Despite this, discussion as to whether the dorsogluteal site should be eradicated from nursing practice in favour of the ventrogluteal site shows no sign of abating. Review of commonly cited evidence in this debate aimed to identify the validity of excluding the dorsogluteal site in favour of the ventrogluteal site by investigating the empirical evidence, which routinely informs this decision. Empirical evidence suggests a case to exclude the dorsogluteal site for children under age 10 for fear of damaging the sciatic nerve, but not so for adults. Recommendations are made for conclusive research into the viability of the dorsogluteal site and an authoritative decision based on empirical evidence, not hearsay, with regard to its continuance or eradication from nursing practice.
Subject(s)
Injections, Intramuscular , Adult , Buttocks , Child , Evidence-Based Medicine , Humans , Injections, Intramuscular/adverse effects , Injections, Intramuscular/nursing , PostureABSTRACT
A comparative study is made of the laser crystals 50 at. % Er:YAG and 50 at. % Er:YSGG. Both lasers are constructed in the bounce geometry with quasi continuous wave (QCW) diode pumping. In Er:YAG, pulse energies of up to ~31mJ, slope efficiency of 12.6% and a red-shift in laser wavelength are observed with a final and dominant wavelength of 2.936µm. In Er:YSGG, higher performance is achieved with pulse energies of ~55mJ, slope efficiency of 20.5% and a single transition wavelength of 2.797µm observed. The study indicates that diode pumped Er:YSGG is a superior laser source at 3µm than Er:YAG and it has greater energy storage potential for Q-switched operation.
