Question

A nurse is preparing to withdraw insulin into a syringe in the medication room. The nurse notes an open, full vial of regular insulin with no labeled expiration date. Which action does the nurse take?

Discard the vial and request a new one from the pharmacy

Label the vial with the current date and withdraw the medication

Withdraw the medication and discard the vial

Store the medication in the refrigerator and notify the pharmacy

Answer 1

The nurse should discard the open, unlabeled vial of insulin and request a new one to ensure medication safety. The use of a medication without a clear expiration date is unsafe and against standard healthcare protocols.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should discard the vial and request a new one from the pharmacy. Medications, especially insulin, must have clearly labeled expiration dates to ensure safety and efficacy. Using a medication without this information is not safe practice as it could be expired, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes or posing a risk to the patient. Ensuring that medication safety protocols are followed is crucial in healthcare settings.

When a nurse reviews items aloud with the team, they are conducting a type of safety check to ensure that all procedures are followed correctly, similar to the checks done before administering medication. All materials used must be accounted for and appropriately labeled, including a focus on whether there are any issues with equipment to be addressed.