I'm sort of taking a survey! Can anyone tell me what department (ICU, SDU, Med/Surg) you handle your insulin drips, and what is your patient ratio in that department? Also, any other related comments would be helpful! Thanks!!
limaRN, BSN, RN 122 Posts Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU. Has 3 years experience. Feb 25, 2013 ICU, up to 2 pts. We do hourly blood sugars on insulin gtts sometimes as often as every 1/2 hr if they're low. I do believe that our step down unit takes them as well.
KBICU 243 Posts Specializes in Intensive Care Unit. Has 3+ years experience. Feb 25, 2013 Any unit (except the rehab floor) and depends on the unit ratio... 2:1 for ICU, 3-4:1 for ICU step down...varies for medsurg floors
turnforthenurse, MSN, NP 3,364 Posts Specializes in ER, progressive care. Has 7 years experience. Feb 25, 2013 ICU, 2 patients, rarely 3 if they are short staffed. Blood sugars are done Q30min-Q1H. We *have* had patients on insulin drips come to my floor (PCU) with a max of 4 patients, with blood sugars still Q30min-Q1H but that is very rare.
Jackie-RN 4 Posts Specializes in Critical care. Feb 25, 2013 ICU - like the others, blood sugars Q1hr at a min.
Sun0408, ASN, RN 1,761 Posts Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU. Has 4 years experience. Feb 25, 2013 For gtts, I have only seen them in the ICU where the ratio is 2:1 unless the pt is really unstable. We have had to check q15min up to q1h.
ParvulusPuella 151 Posts Specializes in Cardiac/Progressive Care. Has 6 years experience. Feb 27, 2013 Progressive Care Unit, 1:4, q1h capsticks per insulin gtt protocol
Lesley Cook 4 Posts Mar 8, 2013 I cover med/surg, paeds,mid, onc, and ED. I have monitored patients on insulin infusions on most of these wards except paeds and onc. Normally we monitor patients hrly, and have a patient load of at least 4.
Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN 2,365 Posts Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health. Has 17 years experience. Mar 8, 2013 I am medsurg and we can have insulin drips for up to eight hours but cannot titrate. This means hourly accuchecks and calling the doctor to change the rate. Our ratio is 1:5-6. This happens rarely for us because admitted true DKAs go to the ICU and rarely does an admitted patient develop DKA before having other issues that would warrant transfer to a higher level of care.
Nurse_ 251 Posts Specializes in Trauma | Surgical ICU. Has 7 years experience. Mar 8, 2013 MedICU - DKA or anything that requires hourly checks (2:1)DOU - only if the MD's order is with titration (3:1)TELE - No titration need for patient and with specific run time (4:1)
Klaf 15 Posts Specializes in Critical care. Has 5 years experience. Apr 12, 2013 Most of them end up in the MICU with a 2:1 ratio. If its short term they can be on the floor for 8 hours.
