The Role of Nurses in the Care of Children & Adolescents with Type One Diabetes

Abstract Background: Type one diabetes is a leading chronic illness among children within the United States. The risk of complications is high, and with adequate care, these can be prevented. Current research indicates that the support, education and care that nurses give are vital to these patients’ outcomes and their families. By gaining a comprehensive look into the care that nurses provide, the art of nursing science can gain a new dimension in how to better care for these patients. Objectives: The aim of this literature review is to analyze current research in order to better understand the various roles of nurses in the continuum of care of children with type one diabetes. Methods: The matrix method, created by Garrard (2014), will be used to guide this integrative literature review. Results: The role of the nurse includes education, diabetes self-management, coordination of care and assessment of the psychological state of the patient. These roles cannot be properly addressed without categorizing both the level of education the nurse possesses, as well as the clinical setting in which the nurse practices. Conclusion: The role of the nurse is broad, and vital to the care of children and adolescents that have been diagnosed with type one diabetes. Patients living with a chronic condition require care in various settings, such as inpatient units, outpatient offices and emergency room visits. This creates a need for defining the role of the nurse in the various settings, by the level of practice in which the nurse has received. Keywords: type one diabetes, juvenile onset diabetes, role of nurse, pediatric