Delegation of insulin administration: a survey of community nursing teams in England
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Updated: Jun 27, 2025

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Karen Stenner1, Judith Edwards2, Lesley Mills3
1Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford.
Abstract:
In community nursing, the administration of insulin for people with type 2 diabetes can be delegated by registered nurses to healthcare support workers. Although a voluntary framework in England provides national guidance, little is known about its uptake. The project aim was to determine the roll-out, characteristics and support needs in relation to the delegation of insulin administration in community settings. An online survey was disseminated to community nursing services in England via social media and nursing networks. Of the 115 responding organisations, 81% (n=93) had an insulin delegation programme, with most initiated since 2018. From these services, 41% (n=3704) of insulin injections were delegated daily, with benefits for patients, staff and services reported, along with some challenges. Delegation of insulin administration is an established and valued initiative. Awareness of the national voluntary framework is increasing. National guidance is considered important to support governance arrangements and safety.
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