Empowering Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Families within the Healthcare Environment

Patient and family education is a critical element of diabetes management. Many children with new onset type 1 diabetes present with symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and are hospitalized at diagnosis. These children and their families receive their initial education in the hospital setting. As soon as blood glucose levels are stabilized and the acidosis is corrected. The patient is discharged home, usually within three days (Nettles, 2005). There is little time to provide the skills and education, as well as emotional support, for a smooth transition to home. It is a challenge to achieve these goals if the only resource person for diabetes education is the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). The CNS for a 14-bed pediatric unit sought to expand the role of the bedside nurse to being the primary educator of patients with diabetes through education and support. All nurses attended an eight-hour workshop on diabetes. A DKA protocol was developed through multidisciplinary collaboration, and nurses were educated on this protocol. Additionally, the CNS organized a diabetes resource cart that contains the tools for diabetes education. The protocol and education materials were uploaded in the Pediatric Share Point site to make them accessible to nurses. Most importantly, the CNS developed a structured patient education plan that is outcome-oriented, and based on review of current literature and practices in the unit. This initiative resulted in an increase in nursing confidence and expertise related to diabetes care as demonstrated by competencies met by nurses and anecdotal evidence from nurses and patients' caregivers.