Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 65%
Simulated
The nurse is preparing the client's morning prescribed NPH insulin dose and notices a clumpy precipitate inside the insulin vial. Which action should the nurse implement?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The nurse should always inspect the vial of insulin before use for solution changes that may signify loss of potency. NPH insulin is normally uniformly cloudy. Clumping, frosting, and precipitates are signs of insulin damage. In this situation, because potency is questionable, it is safer to discard the vial and draw up the dose from a new vial.