How do you scan insulin?

[Ann.E]

I have a question for those who use medication scanners and that administer insulin. At our hospital we have insulin that is given, but in order to scan it we have to scan these little stickers. We are supposed to get a new little sticker each time we have to give insulin, which for some patients that can be four or more times. Pharmacy are the ones that are supposed to be making sure we have these stickers, but its something that often gets overlooked. And I feel like it's sorta stupid to have to call Pharmacy just to print stickers, plus it's a time suck waiting for them to bring the stickers. What ends up happening is that the nurses take one sticker and put it on the underside of our badge so we don't have to get a new sticker each time. But this is against the rules.

So my question is, how do you scan insulin at your hospital? Do you have any ideas that I might be able to bring to management to make this process go more smoothly?

We mentioned just have a laminated card that could be taken to the room with us and can then be returned to the med room. But we were told that we need a new sticker with each administration to ensure we are giving the right medication.

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

How does scanning a sticker not attached to the actual vial protect the patient? Couldn't you in theory, scan the right sticker but pick up the wrong med and draw it up? We scan the bottle that we pull the insulin out of. For insulins like Lantus that are not sliding scale, the prefilled syringe is delivered into their patient specifics with a scan code attached to the syringe.

For our system, you draw up the novolog from a multi-dose vial at the accu-dose. The novolog sticker you scan at pt bedside is only kept in that drawer with the novolog. You can't get a sticker unless you draw up the novolog. So, you couldn't draw up the wrong med prior to the pt because no other insulin are available while the drawer is open.

[britpanda]

For our system, you draw up the novolog from a multi-dose vial at the accu-dose. The novolog sticker you scan at pt bedside is only kept in that drawer with the novolog. You can't get a sticker unless you draw up the novolog. So, you couldn't draw up the wrong med prior to the pt because no other insulin are available while the drawer is open.

This is also the same in our facility. However, it must be said that sometimes that Novolog compartment is out of stickers for scanning which is most inconvenient. I have seen nurses take a sticker and stick it to their brain sheet for that patient during the shift in case we run out of stickers.

[blackribbon]

Is there a way to differentiate between insulins at bedside if you have multiple types to administer at the same time and decide to hold one at bedside?

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

Each sticker has the drug name, dosage, and the bar code. You'd have to try to mess up.

[Ann.E]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Unfortunately, while I would love to tell my hospital that each patient needs their own vial in their room, we are a rural hospital with not a lot of funds. I did tell my nurse manager about the idea of having at least 100 stickers with each vial since that's the maximum dose that could be given and she agreed with that idea. My unit is scheduled for a remodel sometime within the next year and we are going to try to go to bedside charting and I am going to mention the idea of being able to keep medications that are used frequently by the patient some how in the room (such as lotions, insulin, etc). I am going to keep brainstorming with my coworkers to try to figure out a better solution. Thanks again!

[Graduatenurse14]

We don't scan meds at my hospital. Scary, right????? We will once Epic launches soon. It's very behind the times in almost every way.