s-q insulin question - please help

[pattchez]

At my hospital, we are considering dropping the second nurse to check a sub-q insulin administration. If you work at a hospital that does not require you to have a second nurse check the sub-q insulin before it is given to the patient -- would you be willing to share the process or policy or references? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Pattchez

[frodo]

We double check insulin, and the checking nurse must sign mar next to where you sign after you give it. with the exception of one nurse(who no one asks anyway) we do check the bottle and the syringe for the correct type and dose. We will soon be going to all pyxis meds, will train in 2 weeks, wonder how that will be.

[Mommy TeleRN, RN]

We don't do double checks. But if I'm drawing a large amount I always draw up at bedside so to confirm with the patient. Ie. drawing up 50 units Lantus. I'm terrified of being in a hurry and drawing up 50 units regular by accident. So I do it very slowly and carefully and explain to the patient what I'm drawing up for them.

[Dakota1592]

I agree tweety. We have to get over ourselves. The double check is not about whether or not our co-workers trust us or our nursing skills. It is about patient safety. If your policy is to double check then do it right.

We do not double check insulin. If I am giving an exceptionally large dose I always request that another RN check my orders/calculations etc.

As a side note, during my directed study in nursing school, the hospital I was at stopped doing the two person check on insulin because insulin related med errors actually increased with the double check system.