The Diabetes Nurse Champion Course helps staff gain a better understanding of diabetes care, inpatient treatment goals, types of insulin therapy and monitoring, and survival skills education as well as case study review.
The course is offered quarterly by nursing education and professional development, Endocrinology providers, and certified diabetes care and education specialists Naomi Morrison, BSN, RN, CDCES, Beth Woodall, MSN, RN, CDCES and Laura Maynard, BSN, RN, CDCES. Collectively, these teachers bring 25 years of diabetes education experience to the course.
The next session is set for 8 a.m.-noon March 18 in 411 Light Hall.
As many as one in four hospitalized patients have either diabetes or hyperglycemia requiring insulin therapy. Many of these patients will be discharged from the hospital requiring insulin therapy at home for the first time.
The information needed to safely discharge on insulin therapy is often overwhelming for patients and their families. Survival-skills education is ideally started on admission. Bedside nurses have many teachable moments to begin education to patients and families as they provide blood glucose checks and administer insulin. Patients will need to know how to check their blood glucose levels, administer insulin, understand basic dietary needs as well as knowing the signs, symptoms and appropriate treatment of hypoglycemia.
Registration is available through the Learning Exchange at https://learningexchange.vumc.org
