Module 3

What sort of teaching is done in your nursing role?

I work in a diabetes care clinic and manage patients with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. My passion is gestational diabetes and women with pregnancy complicated by diabetes. I believe that most of my time spent with a patient is teaching of some aspect of diabetes. I explain what diabetes is, what causes diabetes, prevention, treatment with diet and exercise, oral meds and/or insulin, weight control and exercise. I instruct on the importance of foot care, eye care, skin care, good control of BG levels and WHY it is so important. With my pregnant gals, I instruct in all the areas above but also stress the importance of keeping BG levels under tight control to avoid and prevent complications to the fetus as well as the mom. If I have a patient that informs me of their intent to get pregnant, I do in-depth preconceptual teaching.

Is there any nursing role that does not involve teaching in some manner?

I do not think that any nursing role exists that does not involve teaching. When I worked as a staff nurse in the hospital we were teaching our patients on everything from how to get out of bed with the least amount of pain to dressing changes to follow up care after discharge. Also, we taught the reasons for medications and how they work to help the healing process. As a mentor to students, we taught about everything we do during a shift and why. As a provider the teaching is in a slightly different arena but ongoing with every encounter we have with our patients. We exchange information with our colleagues on an ongoing basis and not only teach at times but learn as well.