Documentation of discharge teaching before and after use of a discharge teaching tool

Newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetic patients and their parents have a great deal of complex teaching needs before discharge. Documenting the discharge teaching and planning is an important nursing responsibility. The documentation of discharge teaching ensures the highest quality of patient care. With pressures from insurance companies and diagnostic-related groups, nurses must perform extensive discharge teaching in an abbreviated time frame. A Diabetic Discharge Teaching Tool (DDTT) is an instrument that can facilitate concise documentation and assist in developing the plan of care over the ensuing hours or days.