How to Manage Patients with Insulin Pumps in the Inpatient Setting

Presenter

Whitney Hyde BSN, RN has four years of nursing experience in Neurology. She spent 18 hours working with a
diabetic nursing educator in the inpatient and outpatient setting at SUNY Upstate Hospital.

Measurable Learning Outcomes of Session

 Attendee will be able to locate the Insulin Pump Therapy Policy and the Home Insulin Pump Flow Sheet
for documentation.
 Attendee will be a explain who will need to be consulted for patients with home insulin pumps.
 Attendees will be able to explain the criteria patients need to meet in order to safely use the pump during
hospital admission.

Instructional Methods
 The Insulin Pump Therapy Policy
 The Home Insulin Pump Flow Sheet
 PowerPoint

Identified Gap

There is a lack of knowledge by nursing staff on how to manage patients with home insulin pumps in the
inpatient setting. As a result of many nurses not being aware of the Insulin Pump Therapy Policy for patients
admitted with home insulin pumps, these patients are not managed appropriately during their hospital
admission. Often times, endocrine is not consulted until several days into patients admission and the
appropriate insulin documentation is not being completed. The goal of the presentation is to educate nurses on
the Insulin Pump Therapy Policy and improve the management and care of patients admitted to the hospital
with home insulin pumps.

Nurse Education Focus: Faculty Development

Abstract Text:

Approximately 30–40% of patients with type 1 diabetes are using insulin pump and sensor technology
(Impierrez & Klonoff, 2018). With the increase in patients admitted to the hospital with insulin pumps, hospital
health care providers need to manage the inpatient care of patients under insulin pump therapy. At SUNY
Upstate hospital, a policy on Insulin Pump Therapy has been developed to assess if patients can use their insulin
pump safely and for healthcare providers to assess patient’s tolerance to therapy. However, many of the
inpatient nurses at SUNY Upstate are unfamiliar with how to mange patients with insulin pumps and on the
policy. This session would provide education to inpatient nurses on the developed policy on Insulin Pump
therapy and the appropriate documentation that should be completed to monitor patient insulin dosages and
blood glucoses. When inpatient health care professionals are not knowledgeable about insulin pump use, it can
result in medication errors, confusion among hospital staff, and potentially harmful outcomes for patients
(Impierrez & Klonoff, 2018). It is important that inpatient nurses are educated on the Insulin Pump Therapy
policy and use the policy as a guideline to provide safety evidence- based healthcare to patients with insulin
pumps.
 References

Umpierrez, G., & Klonoff, D. (2018). Diabetes technology update: Use of insulin pumps and continuous

glucose monitoring in the hospital. Diabetes Care, 41(8), 1579-1589. doi:10.2337/dci18-0002