Interactive Learning Tool For Patients And Nurses By: Regina Jones

Instructional Objectives  After a brief lecture on “How to Administer a Subcutaneous Insulin Injection” with visual aids the undergraduate nursing student will be able to demonstrate the correct sequence of insulin administration with complete accuracy. Learner Objectives  Nursing students will be able to order the steps to a subcutaneous insulin injection.  Nursing students will identify proper insulin injection sites and technique.

 Wash your hands.  Gather your supplies.  Tear open alcohol wipes.

 Choose your injection site.  Be sure to rotate injection sites.  Clean Site with alcohol.

AbdomenRight Thigh

 Remove cap.  Roll bottle of insulin in hands to mix.  Wipe off top with alcohol.

 Remove needle cap and draw up units needed of air in the syringe.  Insert needle into rubber stopper and push plunger to Inject air.

 Hold bottle upside down.  Pull back on plunger to required number of units.

 Gather 2” of skin and insert needle.  Press the plunger and inject all the medication. Release the skin.  Place cotton over injection site and gently remove needle.

 Activate safety guard.  Dispose of needle in puncture free container.

According to the American Diabetic Association insulin vials should be? a) Kept frozen when traveling on long trips. b) Stored at room temperature until opened. c) Warmed prior to use to avoid cold insulin irritation. d) Discarded in 28 days once opened.

When teaching a patient the importance of insulin you should stress that… a) Using insulin means your diabetes is really bad. b) Insulin is a vital for the glucose to travel from the blood into individual cells. c) Once you start insulin you must stay on insulin. d) You are at the “end of the road” if you are using insulin.

When choosing an injection site you should? a) Choose a site on the opposite side of the body than the previous injection. b) Choose a site one inch from previous site. c) Choose a site closest to your pancreas usually the abdomen. d) Choose any site as placement does not matter.

When teaching a patient how to administer an insulin injection the angle of the needle will depend on? a) The location of the last injection. b) The amount of subcutaneous tissue of the patient. c) The amount of insulin in the syringe. d) The type of insulin in the syringe. Rubric for Insulin Injection Website

Wash your hands Gather your supplies Choose your injection site Clean site with alcohol

Inspect insulin color and clarity Roll bottle of insulin in hands to mix Wipe off top with alcohol Draw up the number of units needed in air

Insert needle into rubber stopper and inject air Hold bottle upside down pull back plunger to required # of units Gather 2” of skin insert needle and inject medication Release the skin, place cotton over injection site and remove needle

Place cotton over injection site and gently remove needle Activate safety guard Dispose of needle in puncture free container Wash your hands

How to give a Subcutaneous Injection. (April, 2009). How to give subcutaneous insulin injections. (Oct 29, 2009). Teaching patients how to give insulin injections. (2012).