Insulin Dosage and Administration

Overview

Insulin administration requires the use of specific unit-calibrated syringes and strict adherence to safety checks. Calculations often involve determining a dose from a sliding scale based on the patient's current blood glucose level. Proper technique for mixing short-acting and intermediate-acting insulin is essential to maintain the integrity of the medication.

Key nursing concepts

• Measurement of insulin in standardized units.
• Technique for mixing two types of insulin in one syringe.
• Calculation of sliding scale insulin based on blood glucose readings.
• Selection of the appropriate insulin syringe size (e.g., 30, 50, or 100 units).
• Identification of different insulin onset, peak, and duration times.
• Verification of insulin concentration (e.g., U-100 vs U-500).

Important nursing considerations

• Use only U-100 syringes for U-100 insulin concentrations.
• Always have a second nurse verify the type and amount of insulin drawn.
• Draw up the clear (regular) insulin before the cloudy (NPH) insulin.
• Check the patient's blood glucose level immediately before administration.
• Do not mix long-acting insulins like glargine with any other insulin.
• Rotate injection sites to prevent lipodystrophy.

Patient teaching

• Teach the patient how to perform self-monitoring of blood glucose.
• Demonstrate the correct technique for drawing up and injecting insulin.
• Explain the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia (e.g., shakiness, sweating).
• Instruct the patient to always carry a fast-acting carbohydrate source.

Related practice questions

Real questions from the NursGuru bank, each with the answer and rationale.

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Insulin Dosage and Administration flashcards

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