2015-P: Preparing Diabetes Specialist Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Evaluative Study

Introduction and Objective: Diabetes places a substantial global burden, and nurses are central to care. With the growth of specialist nursing, structured preparation of diabetes specialist nurses is crucial, yet evidence of training effectiveness remains limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate a training program for registered nurses transitioning to diabetes specialist nurses. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was implied. Phase 1 employed a pre- and post-design to evaluate the training effect on health education competency and core competencies, measured by Nurses’ Health Education Ability Scale (NHEAS) and the Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Core Competencies (DCESCC). The training was designed by Shanghai Nursing Association and consisted of a 1-week theoretical training and 2-week practical training. Phase 2 included four focus-group interviews (n=27 total) exploring training experiences. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s thematic approach. Results: The training included 119 nurses from 85 hospitals in Shanghai, with a mean age of 34.8 years. Quantitative analyses showed significant improvements across all competencies. NHEAS scores increased from 224.7 to 259.2, with gains in knowledge, skills, and personal attributes sub-scales. DCESCC scores increased from 309.6 to 363.8, with all six competency domains improving. Qualitative analyses revealed three major themes, including multidimensional growth in professional competence, evolving professional identities, and confusions due to systemic barriers. Conclusion: A 3-week training for nurses transitioning to diabetes specialist role significantly improved competencies and professional development. Curriculum structure and content could be improved in the future. Meanwhile, collaborative efforts are needed to define a career pathway for specialist nurses. Disclosure B. Zhu: None. Q. Wu: None. P. Chen: None.