An Instructional Module for Nurses to Teach Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

An Instructional Module for Nurses to Teach Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by Josephine Onyekachi Ollawa WHNP, California State University, 2013 MSN/ADM, California State University, 2011 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University November 2019 Abstract Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a carbohydrate metabolism issue during pregnancy that is dangerous for mother and the baby. GDM occurs in 1 out of 3 diabetic women in 16.2% of live births. GDM knowledge and treatment practices among nurses were found inadequate when nurses’ effectiveness in treating a disease they have aGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a carbohydrate metabolism issue during pregnancy that is dangerous for mother and the baby. GDM occurs in 1 out of 3 diabetic women in 16.2% of live births. GDM knowledge and treatment practices among nurses were found inadequate when nurses’ effectiveness in treating a disease they have a shallow knowledge about (GDM) was investigated in the local medical facility. A GDM instructional module was applied and its effectiveness in promoting nurse’s use of GDM education as a treatment strategy tested. The total concept for knowledge and care, empowerment and the social cognitive theories grounded this research. Methodology was Mixed. A population/patient problem-intervention-comparison-outcome-time (PICOT) design was applied in the analysis of data from a sample size {n=40}, whereby the treatment group (TG=20) had an intervention, and control group (CG=20) did not. Data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially with t-test statistic, including the Cohen’s d test for effect size. Evidence showed a significantly high postintervention gain in scores CG and TG, higher among DNPs than other nurses. Also, the Cohen’s d test indicated high magnitude effect size. Overall confidence in GDM treatment method improved. A comparison of mean test completion time and scores indicated that TG completed the posttest at a shorter time than CG. Knowledge improvement results were TG 27%; CG 2%. GDM education is an effective path to positive social change, beneficial to nurses, the medical facility and the community. Improved GDM treatment means a healthier population and increased productivity for the community. GDM education is nonmedicated and more affordable a huge savings for the community. An Instructional Module for Nurses to Teach Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by Josephine Onyekachi Ollawa WHNP, California State University, 2013 MSN/ADM, California State University, 2011 BSc/PHN, California state University, 1998 Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University November 2019 Dedication I dedicate this project to my children for their unfailing love and overwhelming support during my DNP program. Acknowledgments As this long-term goal of obtaining a terminal degree in the field of nursing comes to an end, I would like to thank God Almighty for his numerous blessings and empowering glory. I couldn’t have done it without his grace. I would like to thank all those who have helped to make this journey possible. To my children, Onyinyechi and Kelechi-Chinedu for your love and patience. Your love kept me going and words cannot express my love for you. To my doctoral chair, Dr. Stoerm Anderson, for his continued support, encouragement, and understanding throughout the implementation of my project even when things seemed impossible, you continued to show me innovative ways to demonstrate practice expertise during the development of this clinical scholarly project (CSP). Finally, to my preceptor and project committee, Dr. Robert James Jaffe for his support and my mentors, Dr. John Opara and Dr. Henri Etame, I thank you for the sleepless nights you spent editing my papers and for not giving up on me. I salute you for the learning opportunities you provided for me to grow.