Nurse specialists' perceptions of their role and function in relation to starting an adult diabetic on insulin.

The purpose of this study was to describe how diabetes nurse specialists perceived their role and function in relation to starting adult patients with insulin dependent diabetes on insulin. Using Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology as a research method, six diabetes nurse specialists were interviewed and the interviews were analysed according to Colaizzi's method of phenomenological inquiry. Results showed that the diabetes nurses perceived their role to be composed of six themes: educator; promoter of physical skill acquisition; psychological supporter; advocate of individualized care; promoter of self-care; 'safeguard' in assessing and ensuring patient safety. These results support findings from other studies, that the diabetes nurse specialist role seems to be more complex than descriptions in the nursing literature offer.