TITLE:
The Role of Nurses in Diabetes Care: A Qualitative Study
AUTHORS:
Muna Alshammari, Richard Windle, Dianne Bowskill, Gary Adams
KEYWORDS:
Diabetes, Diabetes Nurse, UK, Care, Role
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.11 No.8,
August
23,
2021
ABSTRACT: Purpose: Nurses are key players in the care of diabetes patients. It is not clear how nurses experience the diabetes care role within a multidisciplinary care context. This article reports the perspectives of nurses working in one National Health Service trust in the United Kingdom, about their role in diabetes care. Methods: The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Participants were nurses who worked in two diabetes clinics in one National Health Service trust in the United Kingdom. The study included 10 female participants, who provided nursing care to patients with diabetes. Data were collected between May and September 2017. Results: Three themes were generated in relation to the role of nurse in diabetes care: 1) Nurses’ performed role: the role performed by nurses in diabetes care was regarded as complex and one that required appropriate preparation and support; 2) Implications of the nurses’ performance: nurses engaged in multiple activities that aimed at providing holistic and patient centred care, and 3) Challenges facing nurses in diabetes care: nurses reported facing significant challenges that interfered with their care role and which could negatively affect patient outcomes. Conclusions: Nurses play a critical role in the care of diabetes patients and require significant support to undertake their role.