Question

A nurse is preparing to administer 15 units of regular insulin along with 20 units of NPH insulin. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

a. Inject 20 units of air into the NPH insulin vial.
b. Shake the NPH insulin vial vigorously to mix the insulin.
c. Use a new needle to draw up the insulin from the second vial.
d. Draw the longer-acting insulin into the syringe first.

Answer 1

The nurse should draw the short-acting regular insulin into the syringe first, gently mix the NPH insulin without shaking, and does not need to change the needle unless it's damaged. Shaking the NPH insulin vigorously or drawing the longer-acting insulin first can lead to dosing errors or contamination.

Step-by-step explanation:

When preparing to administer both regular and NPH insulin, the nurse should follow specific procedures to ensure correct dosage and potency of the insulin. Regular insulin, which is a short-acting insulin, should be drawn into the syringe first. After injecting air into the NPH insulin vial, which is an intermediate-acting insulin, the nurse will then draw up the NPH insulin. It is crucial not to shake the NPH insulin vial vigorously as this can cause frothing and lead to inaccurate dosing. Instead, the vial should be gently rolled between the hands to mix the insulin. Changing the needle before drawing insulin from the second vial is not necessary unless the needle is damaged or contaminated. Drawing the longer-acting insulin first can lead to contamination of the vial with the short-acting insulin, potentially affecting the action of the insulin.