Selling Root Canals: Lessons Learned From Implementing a Hospital Insulin Infusion Protocol

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In Brief Clinical studies have shown that maintaining normal blood glucose (BG) levels improves clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. However, achieving glycemic control in the hospital is difficult because it requires intensive nursing efforts, including frequent BG monitoring and complex intravenous insulin infusion protocols (IIPs). This article describes the successful implementation of a nurse-driven IIP that safely and effectively controls BG levels in critically ill patients. The authors then review some of the practical lessons they learned during this process, focusing on key issues that affect the ability of physicians and nurses to successfully implement such an IIP.