Blood Glucose Skill Sheet

Blood Glucose (Bold greyed out areas in order)

• Therapeutic Effects

• Indications

• Contraindications

• Side Effects

• Reasons for Inaccurate BGL Readings

• Demonstrate use of equipment/procedure

• The student will properly identify the following glucose levels

Blood Glucose (Therapeutic Effects) 1.

1. Used to monitor a patient’s blood glucose level

Blood Glucose (Indications) 1.

1. All patients who are unresponsive or showing signs of altered mentation

Blood Glucose (Indications) 2.

2. Patients who have a history of diabetes

Blood Glucose (Contraindications) 1.

1. None

Blood Glucose (Side Effects) 1.

1. Possible infection if aseptic technique is not utilized

Blood Glucose (Reasons for accurate BGL Readings) 1.

1. Strips are expired or incompatible

Blood Glucose (Reasons for accurate BGL Readings) 2.

2. Not allowing alcohol to air dry

Blood Glucose (Reasons for accurate BGL Readings) 3.

3. A blood source other than capillary is used

Blood Glucose (Reasons for accurate BGL Readings) 4.

4. Poorly calibrated device

Blood Glucose (Reasons for accurate BGL Readings) 5.

5. Squeezing the finger directly at the puncture site

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 1.

1. Take and verbalize Standard Precautions

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 2.

2. Explain procedure to the patient. Gain consent if patient is conscious and not altered

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 3.

3. Let the patient’s arm hang down at their side, if possible, allow blood to flow to the fingers

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 4.

4. Take out the glucometer and SHARPS container and place within arm’s reach. Gather any additional supplies if needed.

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 5.

5. Verbalize checking calibration of Glucometer and verbally verify expiration date of test strips

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 6.

6. Prep the patient’s finger by cleaning the site with an alcohol pad and allow to “air dry.” Do not fan to dry! (student will not open alcohol packet)

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 7.

7. Remove a test strip from the container and insert it into the glucometer firmly to activate

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 8.

8. Firmly place the lancet against the lateral aspect of the pad of the finger and engage the lancet

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 9.

9. Immediately discard the lancet into SHARPS container

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 10.

10. Grab the base of the patient’s finger proximal to the sire, squeezing gently (milking) and place blood in the test strip (Instructor will place a drop of solution on puncture site after student “milks” the finger)

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 11.

11. Press gauze over the site if needed, and then a Band-Aid to prevent infection (student will not open Band-Aid)

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 12.

12. Wait for glucometer to display the numerical value, then verbalize it (student must verbalize milligrams per deciliter)

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 13.

13. Determine the need for treatment

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 14.

14. Remove the test strip from the glucometer and put it in the Biohazard bag

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) Note (After 14.)

Note: Only lancets should be disposed of in the SHARPS container! (student DOES NOT have to verbalize)

Blood Glucose (Demonstration) 15.

15. Document, monitor and re-evaluate the patient as needed

Blood Glucose (The student will properly identify the following glucose levels) a.

a. Hypoglycemia: <60 mg/dl (student must verbalize milligrams per deciliter)

Blood Glucose (The student will properly identify the following glucose levels) b.

b. Normal Blood Glucose: 60-120 mg/dl

Blood Glucose (The student will properly identify the following glucose levels) c.

c. Hyperglycemia: >120mg/dl