Development of an Educational Intervention to Enhance Nurses’ Knowledge and Intent to Implement Evidence-Based Diabetes Self-Management in Clinical Practice

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was purposed with closing critical gaps in staff knowledge and adherence to diabetes self-management protocols in a busy primary care clinic. Rising readmission rates and uneven use of American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards signaled an urgent need for a structured approach to staff education. To address this, a one-hour interactive training session was created that blended teaching, evidence-based handouts, and a practical diabetes care checklist. Staff learning was measured through pretest and posttest, confidence and adherence used a 5-point Likert-scale survey, and 21day readmission data tracked patient outcomes. The project question asked if (a) staff knowledge gain regarding patient diabetes management would be a minimum of 20%, (b) intent to adhere to ADA diabetes standards would improve by at least 1 Likert point, and (c) post discharge readmissions would be reduced by 20%. Participants included seven staff members at an outpatient clinic and data from 15 diabetic patients. Percentages and normalized gain were used to analyze data. Staff knowledge gain was 23.8%, intent to follow protocols improved by 1.02 Likert points, and patient readmission outcomes decreased to zero percent within 21days. These results demonstrated that a short, focused educational intervention could make a meaningful difference. Implications include inclusion of diabetic education for staff onboarding, quarterly staff updates, and ongoing professional development. Organizational adoption of this model can standardize care, reduce disparities, and support patients across diverse healthcare settings in managing diabetes chronically with confidence and consistency.