1122-OR: Evaluating School Nurses’ Competency in Diabetes Emergency Management

Introduction and Objective: Diabetes emergencies in school-aged children can lead to severe complications if not managed promptly. School nurses are frontline responders to diabetes emergencies, yet their competency level varies. To strengthen their preparedness, Dasman Diabetes Institute developed a structured educational program combining e-learning, hands-on training, and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) assessment. This study aimed to determine whether a structured educational program improves school nurses’ competency in managing diabetes emergencies. Methods: A total of 405 school nurses from diverse nationalities were randomly selected from public schools across all Kuwait governorates between January and August 2025. The program included e-learning module on diabetes emergencies and management, hands-on training in insulin and glucagon administration, ketone testing, glucometer use, and insulin pump failure protocols. The OSCE assessment included two stations: blood glucose monitoring for hypoglycemia and ketone testing. Each performance criterion was scored as 0 (not performed), 1 (satisfactory), or 2 (excellent), with automatic failure applied if any action posed patient harm. Results: Of 405 school nurses who completed OSCE assessment, 350 (86.4%) achieved a passing score, while 55 (13.6%) failed. Common deficiencies among those who failed included hygiene lapses, misinterpretation of blood glucose readings, improper ketone sample handling, and failure to document diabetes emergency incidents. Conclusion: This competency-based educational model enhances emergency preparedness, supports safer school environments for students with diabetes and offers a benchmark for school health systems aiming to strengthen emergency preparedness and quality of care. Disclosure M. Alosaimi: None. H. Alobaid: None. N. Mesbah: None. Z. Rahme: None. N. Alqabandi: None. N.A. Taha Mohamed: None. F. Mahmoud: None. D.M. Alroudhan: None.