RN Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist Full Time Day

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The RN Diabetes Educator provides specialized, evidence-based diabetes self-management education and support to patients, families, and caregivers across applicable MLKCH and MLKCMG service lines, with an education provided in the ambulatory care and inpatient settings. The RN Diabetes Educator collaborates with the interdisciplinary healthcare team to assess individualized learning needs, establish patient-centered goals, facilitate access to resources, and support effective diabetes management and prevention of complications. The RN Diabetes Educator also serves as a clinical education resource for healthcare professionals by developing, implementing, and evaluating diabetes-related educational programs, clinical learning resources, and competency support activities. In collaboration with clinical leadership, Education and Professional Development, and the Diabetes Care Committee, the RN Diabetes Educator contributes to standardized diabetes care practices, policy review, quality improvement initiatives, the evaluation of clinical and educational outcomes, and supports disease management initiatives. The position supports equitable, culturally responsive, and evidence-based diabetes care consistent with organizational priorities and professional standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Matrixed work relationship to the Director of Clinical Operations and Strategy and takes clinical direction on standards of care for MLKCH and MLKCMG patients with diagnosis of diabetes.
2. Deliver patient education as needed or as directed by Physician.
3. Provides evidence-based and individualized best-practice diabetes and self-management education to type 1 and type 2, and gestational diabetic patients and their family members or caregivers. Education includes, but is not limited to, glucose monitoring, medication management education, insulin administration, diabetes technology, nutrition-related self-management strategies, recognition and response to acute complications, risk reduction, signs/symptoms and respective treatments for hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS).
4. Plan, develop, and implement individual and group diabetes education for adults, pediatrics, and their families and caregivers.
5. Educate and follow patients with diabetes for control of blood glucose, lipids, renal dysfunction, hypertension, heart failure, and prevention of diabetes complications.
6. Monitors and evaluates, as needed, resource utilization, patient outcomes, patient’s skills in self-care, and patient’s ability and readiness to learn.
7. Monitor and evaluate short- and long-term patient responses to therapeutic interventions in collaboration with providers; provides and maintains necessary follow up for patients and families.
8. Evaluates the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education through patient knowledge, self-management skills, individualized goal achievement, and other appropriate indicators.
9. Provides culturally and linguistically responsive diabetes education that incorporates health literacy principles, teach-back methodology, patient preferences, and social drivers of health.
10. Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to identify and address barriers to diabetes self-management, including access to medications, supplies, technology, nutrition resources, and follow-up care.
11. Provide nutritional counseling for weight control and disease management.
12. Coordinates referrals to registered dietitian nutritionists and other specialists as clinically indicated.
13. Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to facilitate the continuum of care and education of patients with diabetes.
14. Perform assessments and data collections, obtains, reviews, and analyzes information in collaboration with patients, family members, and health care team members.
15. Serves as a consultant/resource to the clinical areas, clinic staff, and departments as it relates to diabetes education.
16. Develop positive and collaborative relationships with other departments, services, and community health agencies to facilitate and support quality diabetes care.
17. Collaborates with Education and Professional Development to identify diabetes-related learning needs and develop evidence-based educational activities.
18. Utilizes adult learning principles in program planning to select the teaching strategy and method appropriate for the learner and the content including e-learning.
19. Evaluates educational effectiveness using learner feedback, knowledge assessments, competency results, and relevant clinical indicators.
20. Develops and conducts group presentations and related educational programs, and staff in services, as needed.
21. Provide diabetes-care related feedback and education to MLKCH and MLKCMG staff.
22. Support Unit Based Educator-led diabetes care education as needed.
23. Supports the development and review of diabetes-related competency validation criteria and educational resources.
24. Evaluate the diabetes and health program on a continuing basis; assesses teaching methods and education material for both staff and families of patients.
25. Participates in diabetes champion initiatives to strengthen clinical staff knowledge, skills, and consistent application of diabetes care practices.
26. Participates in interdisciplinary quality improvement initiatives focused on glycemic management, diabetes-related patient safety, and prevention of complications.
27. Contributes to the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based diabetes care pathways, protocols, and educational resources.
28. Collaborates with the Diabetes Care Committee and clinical stakeholders to identify practice gaps and implement sustainable improvements.
29. Uses, protects, and discloses MLKCH and MLKCMG patients’ protected health information (PHI) only in accordance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards.
30. Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest trends in field of expertise.
31. Attend outreach activities such as health fairs for diabetes screening and health education.
32. Perform all other related duties as assigned or requested.

Job Requirements

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

A. Education

• Associate in Nursing or equivalent required. BSN and Masters preferred

B.Qualification/Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical nursing experience and a minimum two (2) years diabetes education experience with inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Current California Registered Nursing License.
• Current Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) certification preferred; successful completion required within 1 year of hire. Must be knowledgeable in current diet therapy practices.
• Experience with clinical documentation systems.
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification

C. Special Skills/Knowledge

• Bilingual in English/Spanish is preferred.
• Professional knowledge and skill as a diabetes and health educator
• Ability to investigate and analyze information and to draw conclusions
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the nature of diabetes and related issues and patient care concerns
• Ability to design, develop, and deliver, and evaluate educational programs and materials
• Ability to work and interact with patient care professionals as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to provide technical advice, guidance, and support to professional staff in area of specialty
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community