The Effects of Nurse Specialty Certification and Medical Treatments on Glycemic Control Outcomes: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

AIMS: To describe and explore the impact of the presence of specialty certified nurses on the unit on glycemic control among non-critically ill hospitalized patients with Diabetes mellitus. BACKGROUND: Poor glycemic control during hospitalization has been associated adverse patient outcomes. Staff nurses administer much of the diabetes-specific care delivered to patients during hospitalization. Nurse specialty certification is a recognized indicator of nursing care quality. METHODS: A retrospective sample of medical records data was analyzed to describe and explore the impact of specialty certified nurses on glycemic control among a group of 293 non-critically ill hospitalized patients with Diabetes mellitus. Regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of the percentage of certified nurses on the unit as a mediator or moderator of the relationship between medical treatments and glycemic control outcomes. RESULTS: Increases in the percentage of specialty certified nurses on the unit were associated with significant decreases in mean blood glucose levels among patients who received a basal-bolus insulin regimen or enteral nutritional feedings. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who received specific medical treatments during hospitalization had superior outcomes when nursing care was delivered during times in which the relative proportion of certified nurses on the unit were higher.