Diabetes Educator

Diabetes Resource Nurse

Partners with the healthcare team, nutritionist and pharmacist to coordinate a comprehensive care plan for patients with diabetes; provides self-care education to a targeted population of diabetic members in order to improve disease control.

Essential Responsibilities:

• In partnership with pharmacy and nutrition educators, and under the supervision of Regional Diabetes Program; educates patients and families for diabetes self-care: Builds relationships with teaching partners and Regional Diabetes Managers. Promotes, refers to, and advocates the InSTEP program. Collaborates with teaching partners and Regional Diabetes Program to schedule class dates and times to accommodate center patient population; serves as InSTEP program center lead. Conducts group classes using principles of adult learning and the standardized InSTEP with Diabetes curriculum. Assesses patient status, risk factors, and care needs to include self-management skills and factors/barriers to reducing risk. Establishes individual goal plan with patient and Provider. Facilitates and helps members develop a realistic personal action plan which promotes self-directed care. Evaluates patients progress towards goals and transitions to self-management once goals are met. Documents patient status, goal plan and progress per MAS Regional Diabetes Program Guidelines. Assists in evaluation of InSTEP program; completes and forwards required records in a timely manner. Actively manages Center Diabetes Registry to identify special needs and to reinforce self-management plan.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum two (2) years of recent clinical experience to include one (1) year in an ambulatory care setting and two (2) years of RN inpatient experience.
• Certification by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (CDE) OR two (2) years of educational or work experience in diabetes, adult learning principles and behavioral strategies can be initially substituted for certification.
• Bachelors degree OR four (4) years of experience in a directly related field.
• High School Diploma OR General Education Development (GED) required.

License, Certification, Registration:

• This job requires credentials from multiple states. Credentials from the primary work state are required at hire. Additional Credentials from the secondary work state(s) are required post hire.
• Registered Nurse License (Maryland) within 6 months of hire AND Registered Nurse License (Virginia) within 6 months of hire
• OR Compact License: Registered Nurse within 6 months of hire
• Registered Nurse License (District of Columbia) within 6 months of hire
• Diabetes Educator Certificate within 24 months of hire
• Basic Life Support

Additional Requirements:

• Experience and proficiency in care of the diabetic patient required.
• Enrollment in PECOS required.
• In order to work effectively with patients, must have effective interpersonal and communication skills and be able to stand, walk, bend, lift at least 50 pounds, hear, speak, and see.
• Pushing wheelchairs/stretchers is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Case management experience preferred.
• Membership in the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators preferred.
• Bi-lingual skills Spanish is highly desirable.
• Masters degree preferred.
• Highly preferred/required Certification in Diabetes Education (CDCES) with specific attention to youth population