Question

A nurse is mixing regular insulin and NPH insulin in the same syringe prior to administering it to a client who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Inject air into the NPH vial.
B. Withdraw the NPH insulin from the vial.
C. Withdraw the regular insulin from the vial.
D. Inject air into the regular insulin vial.

Answer 1

The nurse should first inject air into the NPH vial.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should first inject air into the NPH vial.

When mixing regular insulin and NPH insulin in the same syringe, it is important to inject air into the NPH vial first. This is because NPH insulin is a cloudy suspension, while regular insulin is a clear solution. By injecting air into the NPH vial, the nurse creates positive pressure, which makes it easier to withdraw the correct dose of NPH insulin.

After injecting air into the NPH vial, the nurse should then withdraw the NPH insulin and then the regular insulin from their respective vials before mixing them in the same syringe.