Page 39 - Johns Hopkins Nursing Magazine Spring 2023 - Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

requiring school nurses to stay updated on the myriad options
and advancements available.

“When schools shifted to online learning during the pandemic, NEWS FROM JOHNS HOPKINS NURSING
some students with type 1 started using [newly released]
hybrid closed-loop insulin pumps,” Busin explains.
Closed-loop pumps utilize algorithms to make micro
adjustments in insulin based on blood sugars transmitted
by a continuous glucose monitor. After the virtual learning
period ended, school nurses returned to their in-person
positions to find students treating their diabetes in a new and
unfamiliar manner. “Many school nurses hadn’t been trained
on closed-loop systems, which aren’t easy to use.”

In addition to the nurse phone calls, “we were hearing reports
of kids with diabetes being turned away from school because
the nurse didn’t have the training or capacity,” Busin shares.
“Parents also reached out with concerns about school nurses
who didn’t understand the basics of diabetes.”

All of this prompted Busin to work with her colleagues to
take action. They started by reaching out to the Maryland
State Department of Education (MSDE) to explain, through
a persuasive, data-rich PowerPoint presentation, why school 37
nurses need more diabetes-related training and support. The
MSDE agreed to allow them to do a pilot presentation at a
virtual meeting for school nurses across Maryland.
“We were hearing After receiving positive feedback on the pilot, the MSDE

reports of kids established a way for Busin and her colleagues to work
with individual counties to provide workshops and create
with diabetes being resources for nurses to keep on hand. “Our goal is to deliver
a bedside resource book for school nurses,” with easy-
turned away from to-access information about everything from how to use
various glucagon kits to treat severe hypoglycemia, to how to
school because the troubleshoot popular insulin pumps, Busin explains.

nurse didn’t have “At this point, none of the diabetes training for school
nurses is mandatory in Maryland,” Busin says. “Our shooting-
the training or for-the-stars aspiration is to ultimately help the state
standardize diabetes education, while making it ongoing,
capacity.” for school nurses.

“But there’s a lot of work to do.” ◼ MAGAZINE.NURSING.JHU.EDU

Photo by Jon Christofersen
Kelly Busin (left) and Kylee Gerohristodoulos