Which statement demonstrates self-injection competency?

Which statement demonstrates self-injection competency?

• A. The patient administers injections correctly and has trained her daughter.
• B. The patient would require ongoing supervision to perform injections safely.
• C. The patient experiences anxiety and stops injections.
• D. The patient declines to participate in injections.

Answer: (A)

Self-injection competency means being able to perform the injection safely and correctly on one’s own, with understanding of technique, dosing, site rotation, aseptic procedure, and recognizing adverse reactions. The statement that best demonstrates this is when the patient administers injections correctly and has trained her daughter. This shows not only correct technique but also the ability to teach others, which reflects a solid grasp of the process, safety steps, and the responsibilities of home administration. It implies independence, consistent performance, and the capacity to manage injections without ongoing supervision.

The other scenarios suggest less readiness for unsupervised practice: needing ongoing supervision means the patient hasn’t proven sufficient skill or confidence; anxiety that leads to stopping injections indicates a barrier to ongoing self-management; declining to participate shows a lack of engagement with the treatment plan.