Does anyone know of any nursing schools that specialize in or emphasize the treatment of folks with type 1 diabetes in patient-centered, culturally competent ways?
Dear courtney,
I suggest you contact some organizations such as the National League for Nursing, about the DNP programs (Doctor Nursing Practice). When you have that list, then you have to learn if the school has faculty specializing in diabetes education, and you can work through them to get to the hospital-based or community-based program with which they are affiliated. You see, finally, you are getting down to a hospital or community program with which the nursing school is affiliated.
Ask also the Certified Diabetes Educator organization if they know any. This organization has both RNs and dietitians in it.
Baccalaureate schools’ curriculum is limited due to time. About four hours lecture is given on diabetes related education, including pathophysiology pre-nursing. Contact with diabetes patients may occur in practice in courses in medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, maternal nursing, and public health nursing. The contact may be minimal or a few hours in the entire program.
At the master’s level, students can get “internships” with education of patients in tandem with a CDE if there is a CDE in the area.
At the doctoral level in nursing, it depends whether the school is giving a nursing practice or nursing research degree.
I have touched the area of “in patient-centered, culturally competent ways” with a ten foot pole. You may find some if you go through these organizations and do research following up the information they give you.
I’d say that if there are actively practicing endocrinologists at a major university school and the nursing school there has a DNP program with a faculty member specializing in diabetes, MAYBE you have one. Phone the faculty member to finally check.
Wow! Thank you for all of the advice! You’ve definitely given me a lot to chew on, all of which will be very helpful.