2. Assessment:
1. Review the physician’s order for glucose monitoring
2. Identify which type of equipment is available at your facility
3. Review the client’s medical history for diabetes, any visual
impairment, oral anticoagulant therapy
4. Determine if the test requires special timing, (Before or after
meals)
5. Assess the client’s or caregiver’s ability to manage the equipment
and perform the test accurately if the care will be provided at home
3. 6. Assess the client’s understanding of the rationale for the
test and the importance of accurate results.
Determine the client’s willingness to perform the test schedule
will be incorporated into the client’s daily routine
7. Assess the client’s sites for skin puncture
4. Nursing Diagnosis:
-Anxiety or fear related to the procedure of skin puncture
-Anxiety related to a diagnosis of diabetes
-Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity related to the diagnosis
-Disturbed Sensory Perception related to visual acuity or
sensorium
5. Planning:
Expected Outcomes
1.Blood glucose level is maintained within a normal range
2.Client or caregiver demonstrate accurate performance of the
procedure
3.Client verbalizes an understanding of the importance of the test
and the need for accurate results
4.Client verbalizes minimal anxiety associated with the procedure
5.Skin puncture site remain free of signs and symptoms of
infection
10. Evaluation:
-Reinspect the puncture site for bleeding or tissue injury
-Compare the glucose reading with client’s previous glucose
results
-Compare the client’s results with normal blood glucose levels
-Ask the client to explain the importance of the results
-Ask the client to return demonstrate the procedure with the
next scheduled test
11. Documentation:
-Glucose test results
-Procedure and site used
-Appearance of the puncture site
-Client’s response to the procedure(headache ,nausea, etc)
-Abnormal results reported to the physician
-Client’s understanding of the procedure and ability to
the technique
-Medication record
-Date and time insulin was administered
12.
13. Time Required: 10 to 15 minutes
Here's How:
1.) First, set out your glucometer, a test strip, a lancet and an
alcohol prep pad.
2.)Wash your hands to prevent infection.
3.)Decide where you are going to obtain the blood from, usually a
finger. Some of the newer monitors let you use your forearm or
another less sensitive place.
4.)Sometimes it helps to warm your hands first to make the blood
flow easier. You can rub your hands together briskly or run them
under warm water.
5.)Turn on the glucometer and place a test strip in the machine
when the machine is ready. Watch the indicator for placing the
blood to the strip.
6.)Make sure your hand is dry and wipe the area you've selected
with an alcohol prep pad and wait until the alcohol evaporates.
14. 7.)Pierce your finger tip on the soft, fleshy pad and obtain a drop
of blood. The type of drop of blood is determined by the type of
strip you are using (some use a "hanging drop" of blood versus a
small drop for strips that draw blood in with a capillary action).
8.)Place the drop of blood on or at the side of the strip.
9.)The glucometer will take a few moments to calculate the blood
sugar reading. Follow your doctor's orders for whatever blood
sugar reading you get.
10.)You may use the alcohol prep pad to blot the site where you
drew the blood if it is still bleeding.
11.)Write down your results. Keeping a record makes it easier for
you and your doctor to establish a good treatment plan. Some
glucometers can store your results in a memory, for easier record
keeping.
