Double Checking subQ Insulin Requirement

[KTakami25]

Hello fellow nurses!

I work at a step-down unit in a Southern California acute care hospital, where an RN has to seek another RN to double check a subcutaneous insulin dose (standard U-100 concentration) before he or she can administer the dose to an adult patient.

Do any of you work at a U.S. hospital or facility where nurses are NOT required to double check a subcutaneous insulin dose (standard U-100 concentration) before he or she can administer the dose to an adult patient? If so, if you don't mind, can you disclose roughly what region you work at?

Thank you very much for your help!

KT

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

~760 bed urban trauma center, Magnet, - no double check.

~ critical access hospital 1, no double check.

~ critical access hospital 2, requires a double check (did some training there)

Washington State.

[Nursewifemom]

No double check

I work at a small regional hospital and have also worked Ltc in the area.

Kentucky

[KTakami25]

~760 bed urban trauma center, Magnet, - no double check.

~ critical access hospital 1, no double check.

~ critical access hospital 2, requires a double check (did some training there)

Washington State.

Hi kalycat,

Thank you so much for the details in your input! :)

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

North Iowa LTC, no double check. On evenings and nights, there is only one nurse on in many of the LTC facilities here as many are smaller.

[amzyRN]

Yes I work at a place that doesn't require a double check on SubQ insulin. We do require checks for IV insulin, heparin and Sub Q heparin.

[NurseCard, ADN]

Sorry I have not answered your original question. I'm in

Kentucky. I work in a small community hospital in a small

town close to 2-3 large cities (Louisville, Lexington, Cincy).

We ARE required to have another nurse double check our

insulin here, but I'm afraid I don't know whether or not

it is a state requirement. I know that in the nursing homes

I have worked in, double checking was not required.

[angeloublue22, BSN, RN]

I'm the only nurse so there's no one to check with. I always verify with the client.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

We only do an RN dual sign-off if we're doing an insulin drip. SubQ requires no second RN. Michigan, Magnet hospital, Level 1 trauma center.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Facility A: yes, needed to have a second nurse sign off on insulin. Level 2 Trauma

Facility B: no second check required. Level 1 Trauma center, no longer magnet.

Both facilities in SC.