Safety and Emergency Procedures Flashcards

A resident's insulin order reads '10 units regular insulin before meals.' The resident refuses breakfast. The QMA should:

Answer: Hold the insulin and notify the nurse

Mealtime insulin without food intake causes hypoglycemia; the nurse must be notified to determine whether to hold or adjust the dose.

Which technique best protects a QMA from a needlestick injury during insulin administration?

Answer: Using a safety-engineered syringe with an automatic needle shield

Safety-engineered devices with automatic shields are the most effective engineering control for preventing needlestick injuries.

During an insulin injection, the resident says 'stop, I feel dizzy.' The QMA should:

Answer: Stop the injection, have the resident sit or lie down, and check blood glucose

Dizziness during injection may signal vasovagal response or hypoglycemia — stopping and assessing is the safe immediate action.

Which blood glucose value triggers mandatory nurse notification before insulin administration in most facility protocols?

Answer: Below 70 mg/dL or above 300 mg/dL

Most facilities require notification for blood glucose below 70 (hypoglycemia threshold) or above 300 (severe hyperglycemia) before giving insulin.

A full sharps container must be:

Answer: Sealed and replaced with a new container — never overfilled

Overfilling sharps containers creates needlestick risk; containers must be sealed at the fill line and replaced.

A resident receiving basal-bolus insulin therapy develops nausea and vomiting after the bolus dose. Blood glucose is 280 mg/dL. The QMA should:

Answer: Notify the nurse and monitor for signs of both hypoglycemia and DKA

Vomiting with elevated glucose in an insulin-dependent resident may signal developing DKA, requiring prompt nurse assessment.

Hand hygiene before insulin administration is required primarily to:

Answer: Prevent introduction of pathogens at the injection site

Clean hands prevent contamination of the injection site and insulin preparation materials, reducing infection risk.