Practice recommendations for NPs
As a primary care provider and often the client’s first point
of contact with the healthcare system, the NP can implement
health promotion and disease prevention interventions
by partnering with the adolescent with T1DM and her family
using an evidenced based and holistic approach to health
care (Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) 2009). Effective
communication of information between the NP, adolescent
and family is essential for achieving treatment adherence
and positive health outcomes (DiMatteo 2004). The NP
can actively engage the adolescent and her family in the discussion
and decision-making processes by developing a
trusting, therapeutic relationship (Pritts & Susman 2003,
DiMatteo 2004) and empathizing with their stories (Daneman
et al. 2002). Individualized treatment and interdisciplinary
health team involvement are required for the
optimal diabetes management of adolescents (Daneman