NPH Insulin Patient Education

A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for N P H insulin. We need to identify which of the following instructions is correct for this specific type of insulin.

Let's review the characteristics of N P H insulin. First, N P H is an intermediate acting insulin.

Its onset is usually one to two hours, and its peak effect occurs around four to twelve hours after injection.

Now let us evaluate the first option: Discard the medication if it is cloudy. Unlike regular insulin, N P H is naturally cloudy because it is a suspension. It should NOT be discarded for being cloudy.

The second option suggests briskly shaking the medication. We should NEVER shake insulin as it creates bubbles and can damage the protein molecules. Instead, we roll it gently between the palms.