Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Project

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Project Mentor

Lisa Abel

Readers

Kristi Cunnington

Abstract

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent pregnancy complication with significant maternal and fetal risks. Despite the critical role of nurses in managing GDM, many lack specialized training in this area. This quality improvement project aimed to enhance the knowledge, confidence, and skills of non-CDCES staff nurses in managing GDM through an in-service training program.

Method: Pre-intervention and post-intervention surveys measured the effectiveness of an educational intervention comprising of an overview of GDM, subcutaneous insulin administration, glucometer use, and postpartum management in improving nurses' self-reported confidence and knowledge. Nine non-CDCES staff nurses participated in the mandatory training, and data were analyzed using the T-test to assess statistical significance.

Results: The intervention resulted in significant improvements in nursing staff's confidence and knowledge regarding GDM management. The mean scores for all survey questions demonstrated a statistically significant increase post-training (p < 0.05). The training effectively addressed knowledge gaps and significantly improved the nurses' readiness to care for GDM patients.

Conclusion: The in-service training program successfully enhanced the GDM-related knowledge and confidence of nursing staff, indicating its potential to improve patient outcomes. Ongoing access to recorded training materials ensures sustained benefits. This project underscores the importance of continuous education in specialties such as maternal fetal medicine to maximize healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

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