When preparing to administer ceftriaxone 3 mL intramuscularly to an adult client, which needle gauge should the nurse plan to use?

When administering ceftriaxone intramuscularly, the choice of needle gauge is essential for ensuring proper medication delivery and patient comfort. A 25 gauge needle is suitable for IM injections as it is thin enough to minimize tissue damage and pain at the injection site while still being adequate to allow the medication to be injected without excessive resistance.

Ceftriaxone is typically administered in a volume that requires a needle capable of penetrating muscle tissue efficiently. The 25 gauge needle provides a balance between being sufficiently narrow to reduce discomfort yet large enough to handle the viscosity of the solution without causing complications.

Finer gauges, such as those above 25, may not effectively deliver the medication due to their small diameter, potentially leading to increased administration time or discomfort. Meanwhile, larger gauges, like an 18 gauge needle, could be overly large for intramuscular injections, resulting in more pain than necessary. The 22 gauge needle, while also a reasonable option, might not be the best choice compared to the 25 gauge for optimal comfort while maintaining efficacy.

Thus, a 25 gauge needle is the most appropriate choice for administering ceftriaxone intramuscularly in this scenario.