Failure to Follow Proper Insulin Administration Procedure
Penalty
Summary
LVN 1 failed to follow the facility's policy and procedure for insulin administration for one resident. During a medication administration observation, LVN 1 was seen wiping the resident's left upper abdominal area with an alcohol wipe and immediately injecting Lantus insulin while the area was still visibly wet. The facility's policy, as well as the manufacturer's administration guide, require that the injection site be cleaned with alcohol and allowed to air dry before injection. LVN 1 did not wait for the alcohol to dry before administering the insulin. Interviews with LVN 1 and the Director of Staff Development (DSD) confirmed that LVN 1 had been trained to allow the injection site to air dry after cleaning with alcohol. Both LVN 1 and the DSD acknowledged that injecting insulin into a site that is still wet with alcohol could cause stinging and potentially alter the effect of the medication. The deficiency was identified through observation, interview, and review of facility policies and training records.