When administering medication subcutaneously, at what angle should the needle be inserted?

When administering medication subcutaneously, the needle should generally be inserted at a 45-degree angle. This angle allows for the optimal delivery of the medication into the subcutaneous tissue, which is the layer of fat and connective tissue located just below the skin.

At this angle, the needle effectively penetrates through the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin to reach the subcutaneous layer without risking injury to underlying structures such as muscle or nerves. Injecting at a 90-degree angle typically targets intramuscular administration, which can lead to deeper penetration than required for a subcutaneous injection. The other angle options, such as 30 degrees or 100 degrees, do not align with standard practice for subcutaneous injections and would either be too shallow or incorrect position for effective medication delivery.

Thus, sticking to a 45-degree angle ensures both patient safety and effective medication absorption in the intended subcutaneous tissue.