University Graduate Receives National Award to Fund Diabetes Education Program
A recent Georgia Southern University Doctor of Nursing practice (DNP) graduate has received a national award funding an interactive diabetes education program for Bulloch County residents that was launched during her doctoral studies.
Susan Riley, DNP, a nurse practitioner and certified diabetes educator at Family Health Care Center in Statesboro, is the recipient of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) - Bayer 2011 Innovation in Practice Award. The funding will support Riley’s INTERCEED program, a monthly interactive diabetes education program for adults at elementary schools in the communities of Portal and Stilson. The program is based on the curriculum she developed for the interactive White board or Smart board, available in the schools during the DNP program.
Riley, a graduate of the DNP’s first cohort and part-time assistant professor in the School of Nursing, credits the development of INTERCEED to research she conducted during the doctoral program. “DNP students are required to select a vulnerable population to research,” she said, about her choice to pursue the diabetes study.
As a nurse practitioner for the past 30 years, Riley has worked extensively with patients in her practice battling the disease. “We are in the diabetes belt. The state of Georgia is one of the top 10 states in the country with the highest incidences of diabetes. There is such a need for specialized care in this area, especially in my practice,” she said.
Approximately 120 diabetic patients participated in her diabetes group visits, which combine a traditional office visit with educational discussions about the disease. Riley instructed patients on the importance of maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and blood pressure as well as making knowledgeable diet choices. After successfully completing the research study, Riley decided to expand the program into local communities, naming it INTERCEED. “This program is a blending of my practice and teaching,” she said, acknowledging the benefits of her learning experiences in the School of Nursing’s DNP program.
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