Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2025
Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Leveraging Partnerships to Reduce Insulin Needlestick Injuries: Nurse-Led System-Wide Quality Improvement Project
Beth Ann Friel1, Ray Sieradzan, Chris Jones
1Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah (Mss Friel and Katz, Messrs Jones and Smith, and Dr Gee); and Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), Franklin Lakes, New Jersey (Drs Sieradzan and Trenery). Dr Gee is now with the University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City.
Background:
Percutaneous injuries from needlesticks are a major occupational hazard for nurses.
Local Problem:
Reducing subcutaneous insulin-related needlestick injuries was part of a nurse-led comprehensive sharps injury-reduction program at an integrated, not-for-profit health system.
Methods:
The incident rate of needlestick injuries was compared between 1 year before and 1 year after introducing this quality improvement project.
Interventions:
A system-wide educational program instituting changes in subcutaneous insulin administration practices was combined with supply chain standardization using a single type of safety-engineered insulin syringe.
Results:
The average monthly incidence of needlestick injuries per 10 000 subcutaneous insulin injections fell significantly from year to year (incidence rate ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.80; Poisson regression P = .004). One-year cost savings for supplies totaled $3500; additional annual median savings were $24 875 (2019 US dollars) in estimated costs of needlestick injuries averted.
Conclusions:
The effectiveness of this multifaceted project provides a practical template to reduce subcutaneous insulin-related needlestick injuries.
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