Associate Professor Appalachian State University BOONE, North Carolina, United States
Registered Nurses (RNs) frequently care for hospitalized patients with T2D. However, hospital policy often limits a diabetes care and education specialist or registered dietitian consultation to those newly diagnosed or with an A1C greater than 9%. Hospitalization is often a stimulus for patients to evaluate their self-management. We are concerned that a lack of dietary education and support for patients with diabetes in the hospital is a missed opportunity for improving cardio-metabolic health with improved meal patterns. RNs reported limited knowledge of T2D meal patterns and discomfort with patient instruction. This poster describes our experience educating RNs on diabetes dietary strategies and integration of tray talk with daily nursing practices to improve support for hospitalized patients with diabetes.
