A diabetes management mentor program: outcomes of a clinical nurse specialist initiative to empower staff nurses.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this project was to enhance the knowledge of the bedside nurse in diabetes management. A forum for ongoing support and exploration of clinical problems, along with the distribution of educational tools were the components of this program.


BACKGROUND
Diabetes accounts for 30% of patients admitted to the hospital. It has become more challenging to manage as the treatment choices have increased. There are a number of researchers who have identified nurse and physician knowledge of diabetes management principles as suboptimal. DESCRIPTION OF THE INNOVATION: Staff nurses are educated for a role as a Diabetes Management Mentor and are expected to educate/dialogue with peers monthly, model advocacy and diabetes patient education skills, facilitate referrals for diabetes education, and direct staff to resources for diabetes management.


RESULTS
Diabetes Management Mentors feel more confident in their knowledge of diabetes and their ability to resolve clinical issues as they arise.


CONCLUSIONS
The Diabetes Management Mentor role is another avenue for nurses to refine their clinical knowledge base and acquire skills to share with colleagues while remaining at the bedside.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical nurse specialist is expertly prepared to foster the professional development of bedside nurses while simultaneously making a positive impact on disease management. Opportunity for future investigation includes efficacy of teaching tools on diabetes mastery, the effect of clinical nurse specialist mentoring on a select group of bedside nurses, and the Diabetes Management Mentor's impact on prevention of near-miss events.
Nursing Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave, P-32, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. modicm@ccf.org
Mary Beth
MB
Modic
Christina
C
Canfield
Nancy
N
Kaser
Rebecca
R
Sauvey
Aniko
A
Kukla
D003479:Curriculum; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011209:Power, Psychological