Registered nurses' actual and perceived knowledge of diabetes mellitus.

This study assessed nurses' actual and perceived knowledge of diabetes. These nurses were employed in a community hospital and home healthcare agency. The Diabetes Basic Knowledge Test (DBKT) and the Diabetes Self-Report Tool (DSRT) were used to assess actual and perceived knowledge. Nurses actual and perceived knowledge were positively correlated (r = 0.402, p < 0.0001). A mean score of 72.2% was obtained on the DBKT. The study findings raise questions about how competent nurses are in caring for patients with diabetes.