Implementing Diabetic Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Practice Change in a Long-Term Care Setting

Background/Purpose: In 2016, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) released a position statement endorsing clinical practice guidelines for diabetic residents in longterm care (LTC) settings. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project was to implement diabetic clinical guidelines in a LTC setting, to improve staff’s diabetic knowledge and confidence, and to compare residents’ blood glucose levels pre- and posteducation. Methods: This DNP Project was implemented in a rural Upper Midwest LTC facility. The project sample included registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, and dietary staff. The staff completed a demographic survey at the start of the project. The Diabetes Knowledge Test and the Diabetes Attitude Survey were completed before and after receiving focused diabetic education. The residents’ blood glucose levels were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. Results: Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic information. Paired t-test were used to compare the pre- and post-test scores and residents’ average blood sugars. Discussion: This project had a positive clinical impact on LTC staff through increased awareness of diabetic management. Some LTC residents saw an improvement in blood glucose levels. Implications for Practice: The organization may incorporate this DNP Project into the annual continuing education curriculum for staff