Insulin Pens

[amaristrs]

At the hospital where I have been doing clinicals at they have recently started using the insulin pens. While being very convienient in the patients lock box are they being administered properly and is the patient recieving the dose inteded? I feel that it is hard to keep the needle and surrounding plastic device around the needle held firlmly to the patients skin and then when I remove it there is always some on the skin. What are your thoughts?

[rn/writer, RN]

Make sure you leave the needle in a good five seconds after you are done pushing. It takes that long for the insulin to go in. You might still see a tiny droplet after withdrawing the needle, but waiting should help.

[OttawaRPN]

It sounds like you're using the retractable needles, which are a pain in the orifice. You have only one chance to push before it locks in place and you have to change up the needle. There's a few times I wasn't certain the patient got the entire dose, and like you said it seems like some fluid remains on the surface of the skin. I found that pinching the skin fold to stabilize the area helps and, as already mentioned, hold the pen in place for a few seconds after administration. It requires a much firmer approach than the regular needles.

[amaristrs]

Thanks for your responses and helpful tips.