32817 Insulin Pump Management: Part 2

Course overview

Discusses features and functions of insulin pumps, program settings, and infusion sets of the Animas® Vibe insulin pump; advantages and disadvantages and the different features of various insulin pumps; how healthcare providers can introduce the consideration of an insulin pump to patients; and how the school nurse can prepare to care for a student with an insulin pump. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump therapy is a self-management tool that can be very effective for many people with diabetes, and more than 300,000 Americans currently use an insulin pump. Due to the large number of people who use an insulin pump for diabetes management, healthcare professionals are seeing more patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings who have an insulin pump. However, many healthcare professionals and clinicians do not have an adequate knowledge base regarding insulin pump management, putting patients at risk for blood glucose instability and potential patient harm. Patients who are selected to use an insulin pump receive extensive training and education, ensuring that they are able to safely and effectively manage their pump. However, when hospitalized, the physiologic effects of an acute illness may require someone other than the patient to manage the pump, or an alternate insulin regime may be necessary. In order for nurses to be competent and safe regarding insulin pumps and their management and achieve better patient outcomes, education on this topic is necessary.