THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF REGISTERED NURSE, CERTIFIED DIABETES EDUCATORS - TEACHING ELDERLY CLIENTS ABOUT EXERCISE

This study identified the knowledge base and practices of Registered N urse, Certified Diabetes Educators (RN, CDEs) regarding their exercise teaching programs for elderly clients who have non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The random sample of 197 AADE members surve yed by questionnaire was a highly educated and experienced group. RN, CDEs who worked 30 or more hours per week in diabetes education or att ended four or more continuing education (CE) programs per year had sig nificantly more comprehensive exercise teaching program designs and in structional techniques to enhance elderly NIDDM clients' learning (P<. 05). However, many CDEs do not teach their elderly clients about exerc ise due to lack of resources, lack of specific knowledge to prescribe exercise, and negative stereotypes of elderly clients' ability to exer cise. Greater availability of educational programs for CDEs to explore curriculum development, program planning, evaluation, and exercise pr escription for elderly clients with multisystem disease is recommended .