Student ID No: 000764715

Programme: BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Nursing)

Course Title: Patient Pathways of Care in Adult Nursing 1

NURS 1442

Cohort: 9/13

PGT Leader: Debbie Dorsett

Submission Date: 25th August 2015

Word Count: 3250
This essay will be exploring a patient pathway in a clinical environment. The pathway to be investigated is the national diabetes pathway from the National Institution for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which was published in February 2015 (NICE, 2015). I will also exploring local agendas and guidelines that are available from a local trust. I will be exploring one patient in particular, who cannot be named for confidentiality reasons, in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (NMC, 2008) the code of conduct governing patient confidentiality, (NMC, 2008).
Diabetes is growing in the United Kingdom (UK) at an alarming rate, (Diabetes UK, 2012). In 2010, evidence showed that approximately 3.1 million people in the UK aged over 16 years old have diabetes. By 2030, this figure is estimated to rise to 4.6 million, (National Health Service [NHS], 2014). It is important as an adult nurse, that I understand the pathway of diabetes as individuals with the condition are at risk of developing further health complications (Diabetes UK, 2012). This includes conditions such as heart disease, stroke and blindness (Diabetes UK, 2012a).
A pathway is a “foreseen care placed in an appropriate time frame, written and agreed by a multidisciplinary team. It has locally agreed standards based on evidence where available to help a patient with a specific condition or diagnosis, move progressively through the clinical experience”, (National Leadership and Innovation Agency for healthcare, 2005). Care pathways improve the delivery of effective care, strengthen the multidisciplinary communication and promote a uniform standard