Failure to Rotate Insulin Injection Sites
Summary
Licensed nursing staff failed to rotate subcutaneous insulin administration sites for three sampled residents who were receiving insulin for diabetes management. The deficiency was identified through interview and record review and involved repeated injections being given in the same area despite orders and facility policy directing site rotation. The facility’s policy for injections stated that repeated injections should be rotated, and the prescribing information for the insulin products also directed rotation of injection sites to reduce the risk of lipodystrophy and localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Resident 2 was admitted and later readmitted with diagnoses including type 2 DM with hyperglycemia and diabetic chronic kidney disease. The resident’s order for Humulin R included instructions to rotate the administration site. The location-of-administration record showed multiple injections given in the abdomen-left upper quadrant on several dates. During interview, RN 1 stated there were multiple instances from 10/2025 to 12/2025 when staff did not rotate the insulin site, and the DON stated there was no excuse for staff not to rotate the site because the electronic record could be checked to see where the last dose was given. Resident 24 had diagnoses including type 2 DM, heart failure, and muscle weakness, and was assessed as having intact cognition and the ability to understand and make decisions. The resident’s insulin aspart order included a direction to rotate injection sites. The administration record showed repeated injections to the left arm and then repeated injections to the right arm over multiple dates, rather than consistent rotation. RN 1 stated staff did not rotate the site from 9/2025 to 12/2025, and the DON stated staff should have rotated the site to prevent lipodystrophy and that administering insulin on lipodystrophy sites affects absorption. Resident 4 was admitted with diagnoses including type 2 DM with hyperglycemia, severe sepsis, and immunodeficiency, and had impaired cognition with no capacity to understand and make decisions. The resident had orders for insulin glargine and insulin lispro, both with instructions to rotate administration sites. The administration record showed repeated use of the abdomen-left upper quadrant, abdomen-right lower quadrant, and abdomen-left lower quadrant across multiple insulin doses. RN 1 stated there were multiple instances from 11/2025 to 12/2025 when staff did not rotate the insulin site, and the DON stated staff should have rotated the site and that there was no excuse for not doing so.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 29, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.
The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.