This site is intended for healthcare professionals only

Journal of
Diabetes Nursing

Issue:

Share this article

DSNs: Employment trends, vacancies and workforce planning

June James
, Charlotte Gosden

Studies carried out by the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists and Diabetes UK have identified how the roles and responsibilities of diabetes specialist nurses (DSN) have expanded considerably in the past decade with opportunities for career development into nurse consultant roles (Winocour et al, 2002; James et al, 2009). This has been in response to the increasing prevalence of diabetes and Government directives, such as moving the focus of care from specialist into primary care settings, including the commissioning of local services and setting national targets and standards for diabetes care. However, the survey conducted by James et al (2009) also identified that these developments are under threat due to a lack of protected time and funding for continuing professional development.

In 2008, the Directory of Diabetes Care (CMA Medical Data, 2008) identified 1278 DSNs working across the UK. However, more information is needed to track gaps in provision, assist with workforce planning, inform commissioning and provide essential information around the qualifications of NHS-employed DSNs.

A survey of DSNs and nurse consultants based in the UK is due to be jointly undertaken by Diabetes UK and NHS Diabetes later this year, and will help identify these gaps in service provision and the roles played by DSNs.

Aims and outline of the study
The aim of this study is to establish a register of DSNs working in the UK to help predict manpower, service needs over time and assist with workforce planning. This comprehensive survey of all DSNs and nurse consultants will help to address the following questions:

  • How many DSNs and nurse consultants are working in the UK?
  • What is the work setting of DSNs and nurse consultants?
  • What roles are DSNs and nurse consultants carrying out?
  • What qualifications have DSNs and nurse consultants gained?
  • What band level have DSNs and nurse consultants been awarded?

From this data we also aim to identify DSN vacancies, “frozen” posts and staff shortages, in order to monitor gaps in DSN service provision and assess against population levels.

We will be sending all DSNs and nurse consultants in the UK a postal questionnaire on 7 September 2009. We would like each individual DSN or nurse consultant to complete the questionnaire, identify their team leader and help us make sure we have reached as many DSNs as possible. The findings from this study will be presented at the Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference in March 2010. We hope to repeat this study annually, and to build on the data collected to help make sure that Diabetes UK and NHS Diabetes can support the role and the development of DSNs and nurse consultants.

On behalf of Diabetes UK and NHS Diabetes we are very grateful for your support and your participation in this valuable study.

The study has been funded by NHS Diabetes, and the project team consists of: June James, Consultant Nurse in Diabetes, Diabetes Nurses Forum Representative and Joint Project Lead; Charlotte Gosden, Information Analyst and Joint Project Lead; Nick Morrish, Consultant Diabetologists and Clinical Lead; and Ursula Anderson, South Central Regional Programme Manager, NHS Diabetes.

Studies carried out by the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists and Diabetes UK have identified how the roles and responsibilities of diabetes specialist nurses (DSN) have expanded considerably in the past decade with opportunities for career development into nurse consultant roles (Winocour et al, 2002; James et al, 2009). This has been in response to the increasing prevalence of diabetes and Government directives, such as moving the focus of care from specialist into primary care settings, including the commissioning of local services and setting national targets and standards for diabetes care. However, the survey conducted by James et al (2009) also identified that these developments are under threat due to a lack of protected time and funding for continuing professional development.

In 2008, the Directory of Diabetes Care (CMA Medical Data, 2008) identified 1278 DSNs working across the UK. However, more information is needed to track gaps in provision, assist with workforce planning, inform commissioning and provide essential information around the qualifications of NHS-employed DSNs.

A survey of DSNs and nurse consultants based in the UK is due to be jointly undertaken by Diabetes UK and NHS Diabetes later this year, and will help identify these gaps in service provision and the roles played by DSNs.

Aims and outline of the study
The aim of this study is to establish a register of DSNs working in the UK to help predict manpower, service needs over time and assist with workforce planning. This comprehensive survey of all DSNs and nurse consultants will help to address the following questions:

  • How many DSNs and nurse consultants are working in the UK?
  • What is the work setting of DSNs and nurse consultants?
  • What roles are DSNs and nurse consultants carrying out?
  • What qualifications have DSNs and nurse consultants gained?
  • What band level have DSNs and nurse consultants been awarded?

From this data we also aim to identify DSN vacancies, “frozen” posts and staff shortages, in order to monitor gaps in DSN service provision and assess against population levels.

We will be sending all DSNs and nurse consultants in the UK a postal questionnaire on 7 September 2009. We would like each individual DSN or nurse consultant to complete the questionnaire, identify their team leader and help us make sure we have reached as many DSNs as possible. The findings from this study will be presented at the Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference in March 2010. We hope to repeat this study annually, and to build on the data collected to help make sure that Diabetes UK and NHS Diabetes can support the role and the development of DSNs and nurse consultants.

On behalf of Diabetes UK and NHS Diabetes we are very grateful for your support and your participation in this valuable study.

The study has been funded by NHS Diabetes, and the project team consists of: June James, Consultant Nurse in Diabetes, Diabetes Nurses Forum Representative and Joint Project Lead; Charlotte Gosden, Information Analyst and Joint Project Lead; Nick Morrish, Consultant Diabetologists and Clinical Lead; and Ursula Anderson, South Central Regional Programme Manager, NHS Diabetes.

REFERENCES:

CMA Medical Data (2008) Directory of Diabetes Care. CMA Medical Data, Loughborough
James J, Gosden C, Winocour P et al (2009) Diabetes specialist nurses and role evolvement:
a survey by Diabetes UK and ABCD of specialist diabetes services 2007 Diabetic Med 26: 560–5
Winocour PH, Ainsworth A, Williams R (2002) Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) survey of secondary care services for diabetes in the UK, 2000. 1. Methods and major findings. Diabetic Med 19: 327–33

Related content
;
Free for all UK & Ireland healthcare professionals

Sign up to all DiabetesontheNet journals

 

By clicking ‘Subscribe’, you are agreeing that DiabetesontheNet.com are able to email you periodic newsletters. You may unsubscribe from these at any time. Your info is safe with us and we will never sell or trade your details. For information please review our Privacy Policy.

Are you a healthcare professional? This website is for healthcare professionals only. To continue, please confirm that you are a healthcare professional below.

We use cookies responsibly to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website. Read about how we use cookies.