11. A patient is scheduled to take 5 units of Humulin R and 10 units of NPH. What is the proper way of mixing these insulins?*

When mixing insulins, it's important to follow the correct procedure to ensure safety and efficacy. Here’s how to properly mix Humulin R (a rapid-acting insulin) and NPH (an intermediate-acting insulin):

1. Gather Materials: Ensure you have the necessary supplies including insulin vials (Humulin R and NPH), syringes, and alcohol swabs.

2. Wash Hands: Always start by washing your hands thoroughly to maintain hygiene.

3. Inspect Insulin Vials: Check the Humulin R vial for clarity and the NPH vial for any sediment or cloudiness. Humulin R should be clear, while NPH is normally cloudy.

4. Prepare the Syringe:

   • Inject Air into the NPH Vial:
     • Draw up air into the syringe equal to the NPH dose (10 units).
     • Insert the needle into the NPH vial and inject the air. This helps in equalizing pressure and makes it easier to draw the insulin.

5. Draw NPH Insulin:

   • Without removing the needle, turn the NPH vial upside down and draw 10 units of NPH insulin into the syringe.

6. Inject Air into the Humulin R Vial:

   • Now, prepare to draw the Humulin R by first drawing up air equal to the Humulin R dose (5 units).
   • Insert the needle into the Humulin R vial and inject the air.

7. Draw Humulin R Insulin:

   • Turn the Humulin R vial upside down and draw 5 units of Humulin R insulin into the syringe.

8. Final Steps:

   • Ensure there are no air bubbles in the syringe. If air bubbles are present, tap the syringe gently and push the plunger to remove them.
   • The correct order should be to draw the clear insulin (Humulin R) after the cloudy (NPH) to avoid contaminating the clear insulin with cloudy.

9. Administer the Injection: After preparing the mixture, the insulin can be administered as per the healthcare provider's instructions.

Following these steps ensures the proper mixing of insulins and minimizes the risk of errors while administering.