Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Janice M. Long

Abstract

Managing diabetes in the geriatric long-term care population can be challenging, yet important because diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease. The purpose of this project was to identify clinical practice guidelines for managing Type 2 diabetes in geriatric veterans and to develop a class to educate providers on diabetes management in the geriatric long-term care population at a community living and rehabilitation center. The practice focused question asked if providing education to providers about the clinical practice guidelines for managing Type 2 diabetes in geriatric long-term care veterans would improve knowledge as measured by a pre- and posttest. The project was based on the stage theory of organizational change and focused on the goal of improving diabetes management in the long-term care geriatric population by using clinical practice guidelines. The American Medical Directors Association's and Diabetes Association's updated clinical practice guidelines and systematic review literature on diabetes provided the evidence to support the educational project. A pretest, posttest, and summative evaluation were used to evaluate the project. A paired t test was used to compare the pretest and posttest scores for all participants. Posttest results showed a significant improvement in provider knowledge compared to pretest scores (t = -4.416, df = 12, p < .01). Participant evaluation of the program showed that the goals and objectives were met, content was understandable, and presentation was professional. The findings of the project may be beneficial at the organizational level to promote positive social change by improved management of diabetes in the geriatric long-term care population, thus potentially decreasing unwanted side effects and improving geriatric veteran health.

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