Inpatients with Diabetes
Published Date: 19th July 2016
Publication Authors: O'Brien S, , Cardwell J, Hardy KJ
Aim: UK management of inpatients with diabetes is suboptimal. Previously, we found diabetes knowledge to be lacking amongst ward staff nurses. We hypothesised that final year student nurses should know about diabetes management and our aim was to test diabetes knowledge in such students to determine whether low knowledge amongst staff nurses indicated a failing in pre-registration training or was a consequence of post registration experience.
Methods: With ethical approval we invited a cohort of third year nursing students to anonymously complete a validated 66-item diabetes knowledge questionnaire.
Results: A total of 86 students participated; overall scores were low, and the average correct answer was 35/66 (range 9/66–48/66). Sixty per cent (52/86) scored incorrectly on questions relating to timing of medications and 90% (77/86) were incorrect on questions about specific diabetes tablets. Similarly, questions relating to insulin scored low; 71% (61/86) did not know when to give insulin lispro and 84% (72/86) did not know where to store insulin pens; 73% (53/86) were incorrect about hypo treatment and scores were low regarding surgery and diabetes.
Conclusion: This study raises concern about the quality of preregistration training and mentorship. Training requires students to consolidate knowledge and skills during clinical placements but student nurse diabetes knowledge was low and previously we found trained nurses lacking in diabetes knowledge. If universities are not equipping students with diabetes knowledge and ward staff have low levels this will factor as a cause of suboptimal inpatient management and needs addressing as part of any strategy to improve inpatient diabetes care.
O'Brien, SV; Ford, N; Cardwell, J; Hardy, KJ. (2013). Pre-registration training does not equip nurses with the necessary knowledge to manage inpatients with diabetes . Diabetic Medicine. 30 (Supplement S1), 153
« Back