Nathan has never administered his own insulin nor bas be ever
expressed an mterest m doing so Up until now the nurse has
performed the task, an arrangement Natban bas been happy with
However, Natban is beginning to realise that unless be learns how
to undertake this procedure he vnW not be able to go home He
makes a decision to engage actively in the management of bis
diabetes Nathan's primary nurse, on realising this, spends some
time educating Nathan about his care She explains how to obtam
and store bis insulin and necessary equipment, how to prepare
and administer the insulin and bow to dispose of tbe equipment
on completion of tbe procedure She also provides him with literature
to read following demonstrating the tecbnique On reading,
seeing and understanding tbe principles ofthe procedure, Natban
requests to practice the skill on an orange This he does competently
on numerous occasions and consequently asks to give
his first insulin injection to himself He does tbis and is discharged
bome withm two days