Question

A nurse is preparing to mix NPH and regular insulin into a single syringe for administration to a client who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first when mixing the insulins?

a) Inject Air Into NPH Vial
b) Draw Up Regular Insulin First
c) Rotate the Vial of NPH Insulin
d) Clean the Rubber Stopper of the Insulin Vials

Answer 1

The nurse should first clean the rubber stoppers of the insulin vials to maintain aseptic technique, inject air to equalize pressure, and then draw the short-acting regular insulin before the intermediate-acting NPH insulin.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mixing NPH and Regular Insulin

When a nurse is preparing to mix NPH (an intermediate-acting insulin) and regular (a short-acting) insulin into a single syringe, the first action to take is to clean the rubber stopper of the insulin vials. This is a critical step to prevent contamination and ensure aseptic technique. After the vials' rubber stoppers are cleaned with alcohol, the nurse should first inject air into the NPH vial and then the regular insulin vial; this is to equalize the pressure and make withdrawal easier. Only after injecting air into both vials should the nurse draw up the regular insulin first, then the NPH insulin. This order prevents the regular insulin from being contaminated with NPH insulin, which could affect its action profile. Insulin injections are essential in controlling blood glucose levels; they facilitate the transport and storage of glucose to decrease blood glucose levels after consuming a meal, per information d. This is a crucial procedure for those with diabetes mellitus to maintain appropriate glucose levels and manage their condition effectively.