What exactly IS a DSN?

[ladybird64]

Morning all.

The question is in the title, is there a particular qualification that enables someone to be a DSN, how does it work exactly?

We have one nurse assigned to our practice, as far as I'm aware she doesn't specialise in Diabetes but is the person that does the foot checks etc.

Thanks.

 

[RussG]

I'm sure others will comment from a more knowledgeable position but my understanding is that whilst there are qualifications specialising in diabetic care, for me a DSN is a specific role attached to a diabetic clinic. Lots of people talk about the a diabetic nurse as a GP practice based nurse who may be the 'diabetic lead' - this is different to someone whose whole role is about specialist diabetic care. I'm sure other areas may have different models but by me, you only get to see a DSN if you are under the care of the diabetic clinic.

On the other thread about strips versus DSN, I would hazard a guess that many people answering that have never actually been able to speak to a 'real' DSN. They're invaluable. It was my DSN who showed me how to take and dose insulin, not my GP or consultant.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

As Russ has said a Diabetes Specialist Nurse is a nurse who will generally be found working in a specialised diabetic clinic attached to a hospital, she/he will be working under an Endocrinologist and will be trained in all things diabetic including insulin treatment and will be well versed in all types of diabetes.

A practice nurse is NOT a DSN.

See this page http://www.diabetes.co.uk/healthcare-pr ... nurse.html

 

[borofergie]

It's a good point, the only time that I had a run-in with the DSN she was excellent. Much better than anyone from my GPs practice.

 

[Unbeliever]

Its probably one of those things which vary . In my area there are designated DSNs in the larger practices. It is a largelyrrualarea and there are several practice nurses in each one but only one is designated as he DSN. the Gps refer to her as the DSN and she receives regular training at the hospital. The othe nurses may receive a certain amount of training but this one, designated nurse is defered to by the Doctors as the practice "expert in all things diabetic.
When I was a patient a a nearby practice there was a gp specialising in diabetes and the "diabetic nurse" was one of he practice nurses with r esponsibility for the diabetic clinics etc.
Whether they choose to have either a Dr or nurse specialist I don't know - always willing to learn though!
As my hospital - a foundation trust is busily turfing out any diabetics of any type who have more than a modiculm of control , back to the "care" of their own Gp's practice perhaps the situation wtih regard to DSNs reflects this.
A few years ago there was a great "push" in this area to move as many T2s as possible onto insulin. This was a nuse-led initiative and initially embraced by the hospital until it became clear that far from the hospitals benefiting the PCTs would fund the initiation of insulin therapy in the local practice.
This we had the Rise of the DSN.
I read recenly that it has been suggested that diabetes treatment could be privatised . This would be "nuse-led".
My DSN has frequent training at the hospital and may, for all I know ,be a complete expert in T1 diabetes. She knows little and has little inteest in T2 except to want to put us all on insulin.
Interesting thread and question.
I would be very interested to know more .
The Gps {all ten} and the other practice Nuses and receptionists all refer to her as "The DSN".
and no Dr or nurse will discuss any diabetic medication without reference to her.

Is this, then, a massive "con"?

 

[Grazer]

the "diabetic nurse" was one of he practice nurses with a esponsibility for the diabetic clinics etc.

It's a shame more of them aren't diabetic - they might learn more about it then! :lol: (Think you mean "diabetes nurse" - I kept calling ours the diabetic nurse until she explained she wasn't diabetic!)

 

[Unbeliever]

the "diabetic nurse" was one of he practice nurses with a esponsibility for the diabetic clinics etc.

It's a shame more of them aren't diabetic - they might learn more about it then! :lol: (Think you mean "diabetes nurse" - I kept calling ours the diabetic nurse until she explained she wasn't diabetic!)[/quote

I see you point but in actual fact she was refered to as the "diabetic nurse" by all and sundry.
In fact the doctor was also known as the "diabetic " doctor and once when he was on holiday I was offered an a :lol: lppointmebt with another doctor on the grounds that he was a "diabetic " doctor "too!
I don't think this was accurate.

Apologies , I was pobably concentrating too hard on not typing my own "pet" name for them.!

 

[copepod]

I have met one diabetes specialist nurse who had diabetes - sadly he moved to another hospital, so only met him once, a few years ago.
However, when I was diagnosed some 15 years ago, I was a registered nurse, but hadn't worked as a nurse for a couple of years, having just grained BSc Marine Biology and trying to make a career in that field. I had no particular experience of diabetes, and was very disappointed by the reactions of the hospital DSN to my questions eg she laughted when I asked if I'd have to go into hospital to start insulin, and when i asked about mountain walking, she went on about her very modest rambling, which wasn't what I meant. So, I stopped asking questions or going anywhere near a hospital, although this was also because I moved to another city to do my MSc and then another city for research. I now work in fields related to health promotion, disability, countryside management etc. Sorry, but I definitely would not want to spend all my working days seeing the effects of diabetes complications.

 

[borofergie]

If all DSN have to have diabetes, then it's a good job that we don't require all Cancer Nurses to have had cancer.

Just saying...

 

[ladybird64]

Thanks for your answers folks.

I didn't think our practice nurse was a "DSN" somehow. I think she went on a DESMOND course for professionals (which seems to be a one day thing from what I can see on their website) and although she really is a lovely lady, I honestly don't think she is that knowledgeable about the intricacies of Diabetes. She was rather disappointed when I said I didn't want to attend a DESMOND course for the newly diagnosed but didn't argue with me over it (she knows me too well! )

My daughter was under the care of an Endocrinologist and the diabetic nurse (the real deal I guess!) at our local hospital for both her insulin dependent diabetes and another condition and it was blatantly obvious this DSN knew her stuff..I had confidence in her.

I'm still a relative newbie but am getting by on the info I get here, not from my HCP's. The 2 most important issues for me at present are being able to manage my own condition by testing and by dietary change. As I stated before (and I'm not a low carber) the info given to me by my nurse in a booklet was to "fill up on plenty of starchy carbs" and self testing is deemed not necessary by the docs so that is probably that as far as the diabetes relationship goes!

I will have my 3 monthly hba1c, go and get my feet prodded (eww) and get my eyecheck and that's it folks. As my hba1c came down to 6.6 without the recommended meds, I feel quite confident that I must be doing something right.

I just wish that if I did have problems with the diabetes, I knew I would be seeing someone who really has studied the subject and knows what to do..****, it really is a minefield out there isn't it?

 

[RussG]

If all DSN have to have diabetes, then it's a good job that we don't require all Cancer Nurses to have had cancer.

Just saying...

Ditto suicide counsellors, I guess.

Borofergie makes a good point (which is not an unusal state of affairs). I think the idea of our diabetic support team having diabetes seems attractive, but in reality I don't know how useful it would really be. Don't get me wrong, it would probably bring a different perspective but I don't think it would radically change things, nor always be helpful.