IMPROVING SCHOOL NURSE CONFIDENCE WITH CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING TECHNOLOGY

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers reliable glycemic measurements and improved health outcomes for pediatric patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D). With CGM use becoming the new pediatric standard of care for T1D management, it is increasingly common for children with diabetes to arrive in school wearing CGM devices. School nurses’ lack of familiarity with this new technology can lead to dangerous methods of assessment, interpretation, and treatment of sensor glucose results in the school environment. This project aimed to increase confidence among school nurses in providing accurate and safe treatment decisions for students with T1D by developing and evaluating an evidence-based, standardized CGM protocol. A total of 22 school nurses were recruited to complete an adapted Diabetes Device Confidence Scale, assessing their confidence in operating CGM devices before and after exposure to a standardized CGM assessment protocol. Results revealed an overall increase in confidence related to CGM knowledge, use, and assessment following observation of an educational module detailing a standardized approach to CGM assessment tailored to school nurses. Open-ended responses from participants were additionally gathered to identify barriers and facilitators for implementation of this protocol into clinical practice. This project highlights the potential of a standardized assessment tool for school nurses to increase their confidence in caring for students with CGMs at school, informing future integration of CGM training into clinical practice guidelines to promote safe and accurate treatment decisions for students with T1D at school.