DSN Spotlight – Rahab Hashim

By Editor
15th January 2020
DSN Spotlight

The role of the diabetes specialist nurse is hugely important in ensuring high-quality diabetes care. Our DSN Spotlight series celebrates this great position and also aims to find out more about those who are making a difference to people with diabetes every day.

Job title: Diabetes Specialist Nurse

Trust: Weston Area Health Trust

Time in position: Five years

What’s your biggest challenge in diabetes today?

My biggest challenge is to train healthcare staff to deliver better care for inpatients with diabetes, in particular managing Variable Rate Insulin Infusions and DKA protocols.

What’s been your biggest achievement in diabetes care?

Reducing insulin-related incidents in the hospital by 40 per cent in 2016-2017 by implementing a regular 1:1 teaching programme for the nursing staff.

What would you like to see change in diabetes?

I would like to see a change in society where people with diabetes or obesity are not stigmatised. I would like healthcare professionals to think more about the language used and consider the consequences on the patients’ mental health and well being.

What’s been the biggest development in the last 10 years?

 The biggest development is the flash glucose monitoring and the ability for our patients to have access to Libre funded by the NHS. Also access to concentrated and bio similar insulins.

What is the best way to achieve good health outcomes among people with diabetes?

Being empathetic and using the words carefully to discuss the patients’ condition and being able to listen and show that it is ok not to be perfect at times.

Empower the patients to set realistic goals by involving them in the discussion and allow them to open about their priorities and factors which makes it difficult to achieve their goals.

Comments (0)