Student participation in diabetic patient education.

As described, students who have participated in this innovative curriculum are familiar with individualized instruction. These students are thus experientially equipped to carry out the tasks of individualized patient education in the clinical setting. In the learning module the students study beginning teaching-learning principles and basic concepts of adult education in conjunction with learning to care for patients with endocrine dysfunction who require education for adaptation. Through the experience of assessing, planning, and implementing their own teaching in collaboration with the primary nurse and physician, the students learn to incorporate appropriate teaching behaviors into their concept of nursing. It is hoped that this knowledge and experience will make student nurses more effective nursing practitioners. This achievement is of utmost value to the consumer of nursing care.