I am in the process of reviewing literature on whether double-checking vs. single-checking subQ insulin is improving patient outcomes.
If you are a nurse who administers subQ insulin via patient-specific insulin pens, could you share on
what safety checks/processes are REQUIRED at your facility to make sure that you are using the right insulin pen on the right patient?
For example, at my facility here in Southern California, barcode scanning does not ensure that the pen is for the right patient--only the required double-checking process (with another nurse) does.
Thank you so much for sharing! Your input will help me think of ways to ensure patient safety when using insulin pens at our hospital.
At my facility which is a residential psych facility for children and teens we have a few diabetics and they all have their own pens. We keep the current pen(s) in a pencil box like this see image below . With one of the clients labels on the box along with the client's ordered insulin formula and ordered long acting insulin orders typed up and taped over on the box. In the box we also keep a few of the needle caps in the box as well. Their name will also be written with sharpie on the box. on the pen itself sometimes there will be on of their sticker/labels wrapped around the removable cap part of the pen and/or initials written on the cap. These are kept in the med room on the unit the particular client is on. ( this would be a pia system on a larger scale tho and with shorter average stays)
Thanks for your details response, areason4stars!:)
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 10/25/2017 at 5:25 PM, KTakami25 said:
Hello fellow nurses!
I am in the process of reviewing literature on whether double-checking vs. single-checking subQ insulin is improving patient outcomes.
If you are a nurse who administers subQ insulin via patient-specific insulin pens, could you share on
what safety checks/processes are REQUIRED at your facility to make sure that you are using the right insulin pen on the right patient?
For example, at my facility here in Southern California, barcode scanning does not ensure that the pen is for the right patient--only the required double-checking process (with another nurse) does.
Thank you so much for sharing! Your input will help me think of ways to ensure patient safety when using insulin pens at our hospital.
KT
Well there’s always the five rights of medication administration
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Sort of off topic but I hate the idea of insulin pens and I am a diabetic. Insulin pens are high cost delivery systems which account for the high cost of Insulin. Did you know that you can buy reggular insulin at Walmart for about $20 a bottle without insurance or a prescription. I know I've bought it.
Sort of off topic but I hate the idea of insulin pens and I am a diabetic. Insulin pens are high cost delivery systems which account for the high cost of Insulin. Did you know that you can buy reggular insulin at Walmart for about $20 a bottle without insurance or a prescription. I know I've bought it.
I did not know that! Were I diabetic, I would buy it this way.
Insulin pens are high cost delivery systems which account for the high cost of Insulin.
And the cost of Lantus keeps going up! My cat was diabetic and after he died I found I had so much more money in my checking account. I do have to say he was always willing to take his BID injection if food was infront of him. One day I was rushing to work and another cat was under my feet. Thinking it was the diabetic cat I swiftly gave the shot and, oh no, realized I made a med error with the patient. I put more food in the bowl, this cat was healthy and went to work but definately feeling bad. Later that morning my husband accidentally locked the cat out from her food. I arrived home hearing what sounded like caterwalling to find the cat throwing herself at the door. She was a sweetheart and after a full stomach she returned to her placid self/
Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
On 3/7/2021 at 7:08 PM, londonflo said:
And the cost of Lantus keeps going up! My cat was diabetic and after he died I found I had so much more money in my checking account.
Ah yes, the cost of Lantus for vet use. My sweet kitty was apparently insulin-resistant, which we didn’t discover until I had about $600 worth of those pens in my fridge. She went on increasing doses of porcine (at $40/vial) but never got a remotely normal blood glucose (for cats, 100-250- she ran about 575). Because the unopened insulin had been in my home fridge I couldn’t return it and I was able to donate it to another human with a diabetic pet via the local FreeCycle group.
insulin is also available by mail from Canadian pharmacies for a LOT less.
KTakami25
19 Posts
Thanks for your details response, areason4stars!:)