Do you mix your insulins?

suebird3 · Jul 30, 2006

I still mix.....clear first ®, then cloudy (N or 70/30); I NEVER mix Lantus, obviously...but then again, I had only one person on Lantus, and they transfered.....

Haven't heard anything about not mixing, though.

Suebird

Nieuport · Jul 30, 2006

I don't mix. I'm just too paranoid.

SharonH, RN · Jul 30, 2006

Hello Lisa, I mix. I know it's terrifying but you will learn to trust your judgment with practice. There are a lot more complex procedures and meds you will be doing in your career and it will take time to become confident in your skills but it will happen.

MiaLyse, APRN · Jul 30, 2006

I mix, clear to cloudy. I never heard of not mixing them and giving two needles. Just more discomfort for the patient I would think.

ragingmomster, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 30, 2006

So you subject the pt to twice as many injections? :rolleyes: Imagine what that will do after a couple of years.

I was taught at school, clear first then cloudy. Another RN told me recently that she was taught cloudy to clear so that if she accidentally put some cloudy into the clear she would notice and would not see if it happened the other way around.

jmgrn65, RN · Jul 30, 2006

yes I mix insulins, of course I don't mix lantus. I think of the patient they don't want 2 shots. No need to be paranoid, just know what you are drawing up and if you aren't sure look them up. It's OK

iHeartNICU · Jul 30, 2006

Hi. I'm a nursing student and we were taught to mix drawing up the clear and then cloudy. I understand where you are coming from about not wanting to make a mistake but put yourself in the patient's shoes. I'm not diabetic but I do take procrit injections for anemia and if a nurse for some reason said she had to give me two shots of my normally just one shot drug I would tell her "No Way!" unless absolutely necessary. Not because I'm trying to be difficult but because I have to do this all the time and I don't want more than I have to have. The more times you mix the insulins, the more comfortable and confident you will be. Just go slowl and take your time until you are comfortable.

clemmm78, RN · Jul 30, 2006

nursing for well over 20 years, never heard of not mixing them. Was taught cloudy then clear so you could see if you mixed the cloudy into clear by accident. I wouldn't want to subject a patient to more injections than necessary. Look at it this way - a newly diagnosed diabetic could be receiving injections with each meal and at night, at least four times a day. Giving two injections each time, you are using 8 sites in one day? Not to mention the extra cost of two syringes each time.

Nieuport · Jul 30, 2006

OK, OK, my head is hanging at the thought of causing unnecessary discomfort to ANY pt. I just worry that when things are really nuts (busy med/surg floor) any step in eliminating potential med error is safer than not.??

EDGRADNURSE · Jul 30, 2006

Hi,

In the facility I work in, insulins are mixed. However, insulin is a "high alert" medication and an RN is required to have another RN verify the correct dosage. Of course, if you are mixing, this requires another RN to check the dr's order and then watch you mix it up. I'm not uncomfortable with that. It's a nice safety check. However, when it gets busy.................

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2006

I mix regular, NPH, and/or 70/30.

There is no data, and most data says not to ever mix lispro or lantus.