Diabetic Educator- Registered Nurse

Summary/Objective:

 The Registered Nurse, Diabetes Educator delivers comprehensive and seamless services that bridge the gap and integrate clinical and self-management aspects of diabetes care. The RN/DE is an integral part of the interprofessional team and provides collaborative, comprehensive and patient-centered care, and education conducive to behavior change and improved quality of life across the lifespan.

Essential Functions:

• Provide diabetes and self-management guidance and education to pre-diabetics, type 1, and type 2 patients. Develop individualized diabetes education plans for patients in collaboration with medical provider, and monitor adherence to plan. Individualized education plans shall take into account different cultural, physical, cognitive, and literacy levels of patients and families and meet evolving needs of patient. 
• Plan, develop, and implement individual and group diabetes education strategies for patients through their life span and their families and caregivers.

Provide nutritional counseling for weight control and diabetes management (if a registered dietician). Use comprehensive knowledge of nutrition to assist patients with meal planning. Teach patients to manage blood glucose with carbohydrate counting and to manage weight with calorie counting. Monitor patient diet diaries.

• In collaboration with patient and health coaches, develop a physical activity plan that accommodates patients’ needs, abilities, and self-management goals, and monitor progress.
• Assist medical provider in assessing need for, and frequency, of self-glucose monitoring and teach patients self-glucose monitoring. Monitor adherence to plan. Assist medical provider in evaluating blood glucose logs in conjunction with diet diaries at provider visits.
• Instruct patients and family members on medication safety including preventing, recognizing, and treating hypoglycemia. Teach how to administer insulin. Assist medical provider in adjusting oral medication and insulin doses according to blood glucose measurements, dietary habits, and individual barriers to care.
• Work with patient and the care team to ensure patient has access to medications and does not run out of insulin or other medications and to ensure patient keeps appointments with medical provider and CDE for diabetes monitoring.
• Identify individual social and emotional barriers (such as depression) to compliance with treatment plan, and refer patient to appropriate team member, such as case manager and/or integrated behavioral health counselor.
• Assist provider in monitoring patient’s diabetes care flow sheet, ensuring patient gets timely recommended preventive and monitoring tests, treatments, and referrals per diabetes care guidelines.
• Facilitate coordination of care across specialty care, facility-based care, and community organizations.
• Assist in the review and/or the development of clinical practice guidelines. Serves as content expert for diabetes education and management. 
• Assist in the development of policies and procedures for diabetes and health education guidelines.
• Insulin pump education and training.
• Support Galen Medical Group and Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology as needed.

Other Duties/Responsibilities:

• Promote the mission, vision, and values of Galen Medical Group.
• Report to work on time and as scheduled.
• Represent the organization in a positive & professional manner.
• Must adhere to HIPAA guidelines at all times in order to maintain the highest level of patient confidentiality.
• Comply with all organization policies and procedures.
• Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Attend regular staff meetings and in-services as directed.
• Consistently demonstrate the value of the team concept.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Promote the mission, vision, and values of Galen Medical Group.
• Maintain confidentiality of all patients, medical, financial, and legal information.
• Report to work on time and as scheduled.
• Wear identification during work hours.
• Represent the organization in a positive & professional manner.
• Ability to handle difficult situations involving patients, physicians, or others in a professional manner.
• Ability to work independently, exercise creativity, be attentive to detail, and maintain a positive attitude.
• Comply with all organization policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
• Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.
• Attend regular staff meetings and in-services as directed by your manager.
• Consistently demonstrate the value of team concept.
• Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous responsibilities.
• Complete assignments efficiently and in a timely manner.
• Understands and abides by OSHA, HIPAA & CLIA standards.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing and/or Dietetics from an accredited facility.

License/Registration/Certification:

• Licensed in the State of Tennessee as a Registered Nurse or Registered Dietician.
• Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators OR eligibility to take exam is required. Must obtain CDE within 1 year from the date of hire if not certified at time of hire.

Experience:

• Three years of experience caring for individuals with diabetes is preferred.

Proficient with computer-based applications such as MS Office, Adobe, registries/medical databases, and electronic health record. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.