"Community" Insulin

We have multi dose vials that are used for all pt receiving insulin. There are no names on the bottles but each bottle has to be labeled with the date it was opened and the expiration date must be clearly visible. i have never seen it done any other way.

We use the same bottle for all our patients. When it runs out, pharmacy sends another. Alcohol wipes are your friend.

How do you guys feel about sharing insulin for all your patients?

What is your hospital's policy? I'm just a student, and it is the unforgiveable sin for us to give insulin that doesn't have the patient's name on it, but the nurses on the floor get irritated when we can't give it for that reason. I know there are a few floors with a bin full of Novolog bottles with God knows who's name on it. It seems like it would be a HIPAA violation as well, no?

I don't know about it being a HIPAA violation but our hospital did away with vials of insulin some time ago. We use pins, one for each patient. If pt doesn't have one in their med drawer, have to order from the pharmacy before we can give any insulin. It helps allot if nurse before you orders a new one if they are using the last units of insulin.

I know that a bin of vials of insulin not belonging to a pt or no name is a BIG Joint Commission violation. BIG ONE!

If it's a bottle- what's the problem? In LTC we use stock meds- aspirin, multi-vitamin and so on than any resident who is prescribed it can use out of the same bottle. Same deal with insulin- the needles are in the cart, you draw up at the cart, you administer and then you throw in sharps container. There is no more cross contamination in that than if you had another bottle of insluin stored near it. A pen, of course, is different and you have to make sure you are administering the correct type, but, otherwise, I really don't see the problem.

The big bin full is an issue. These community insulin's should be stock or else another patient is paying for someone else's insulin. A big box full of random insulin sounds gross and unsafe.

BTW- unfortunately there is a lot of things we can't do as students that nurses on the floor can do. I know it annoys them sometimes, but, whatever- I do the best I can. Some so quickly forget that they were students once too.

We use multi - dose insulin for most pts. Some have insulin pens.

I don't see a problem. Of course - when I first started, all meds were stock - pouring meds was a lot harder before single dose packets!

We also use multi-dose bottles for MOM, Maalox, Liquid Tylenol and Liquid Colace.

Ask the Joint Commision. The have a "submit a question" form...here is the link:

http://www.jointcommission.org/Standards/OnlineQuestionForm/

Um, on our floor, each patient has their own insulin in their medication drawer. If they dont, we call pharmacy and they send one. If its nighttime and pharmacy is gone, then we would "borrow" a dose from another drawer, but thats rare. I dont like the idea of drawing from a vial that has been accessed by God knows who. Ya just never know. And when the patient is discharged, they take the used vial with them, after all they did pay for it and will use it at home.

i have seen this done both ways

the ltc where each patient had their own med from the pharmacy you would draw up their med from their vial

in facilities where they have 'stock' meds then you draw up the med from a vial that corresponds with what is ordered

however you ar a student and it is imperative that what you do is kosher with the instructors , you are working under their license - request that the nurse does the insulin injection

This thread is posted twice.

I've always worked places that use the same bottle for everyone. Only exception was at one point if the patient was getting a special type (ie, not R) they'd have their own pen-fill. We keep our's in the pyxis. Why not use the same bottle? If you're only using a needle once, it's not unsanitary. I suspect it has to do with billing. We tell the pyxis how many unit's we're taking out for each patient.

When I was in the hospital once they gave me the bottle they had been using for me, however.

I have a hard enough time find the insulin when I need it much less patient x's insulin...