Diabetes Educator

Description

Lexington Regional Health Center

Title: Diabetes Educator

Effective Date: March 21, 2024

Supervisor: Director of Transitional Care 

Department: Patient Education

FLSA Status: Non-exempt 

Principle duties and responsibilities

1. Provides education related to diabetes and the disease process; medication, diet and nutritional monitoring; foot care, prevention and care of complications; blood glucose monitoring and the techniques of self-monitoring and injection and long-term complications.
2. Develops and coordinates educational programs for diabetes which includes education to staff, patients, and families. 
3. Accesses clinical documentation system of hospital to obtain patient data, assists with scheduling appointments, completing outcomes data, and ensuring efficient process flow of patient’s plan of care.
   
4. Provides clinical resources and consultation to staff and providers.
   
5.  Assesses, monitors, and implements treatment plans for patients at various stages of the disease. The focus is on prevention of complications and management of stable diabetes.
   
6.  Provides ongoing assessment and recommendations to the treatment team and patient/family for adjustments in the plan of care as required.
   
7.  Documents assessments, interventions and plans including recommendations and goals, progress notes and discharge summaries related to diabetes education.
8. Educates patients about their condition, medication and gives them specific care and treatment instructions. Coordinates and encourages Lexington Regional Health Center diabetic population to receive standard of diabetic care from primary care provider.
   
9.  Coordinates community outreach, which could include education classes to include the schools, etc.
10. Participates in patient care activities that could include blood exposure and risk to bloodborne pathogens (eg: lacerations, handling of blood-contaminated specimens, etc.)
    
11. Responsible for safe bagging and disposal of biohazardous waste.
    
12. Responsible for following safe-injection practices.
    
13. Responsible for ensuring the environment meets appropriate governing body standards.
    
14. Ensures patients and visitors follow current infection control guidelines.
    
15. Serves on various committees as assigned.
    
16. Maintains patient and staff safety through the use of patient safety tools (Teamstepps, Just Culture, etc.).
    
17. Regular attendance at the assigned work location is required.
    
18. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities

1. Knowledge and understanding of nursing theory and practice and the growth and development of a variety of patients in order to meet the patients' health care needs as is typically acquired through the completion of an associate's or bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school with licensure by the State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Bachelor's degree preferred.  
2. Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) preferred; or, if not certified, required to have 15 hours of continuing education units in diabetes education annually. The CDCES certification must be maintained.
3. A minimum of two years’ experience in a healthcare setting preferred. 
4. Basic Life Support certification via American Heart Association required within six months of hire and/or orientation.
5. One year work experience as a care coordinator, patient educator or similar role preferred but not required. 
6. Highly organized with a strong ability to manage different priorities. Ability to work with others and use resources to problem solve.
7. Advanced written and oral communication skills necessary to converse in an effective and positive manner with patients, hospital employees, providers, visitors and the community.
   
8. Ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.   
9. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with regard to protected and sensitive information.
   
10. Ability to complete reports and correspondence at a professional level.
    
11. Ability to immediately respond to common inquiries and complaints from patients, employees and regulatory agencies in collaboration with supervisor and administration.
    
12. Successful completion of required knowledge and training of standard precaution and transmission protocols and when to apply during principle duties and responsibilities. 

Working conditions

1. Works in a normal office work environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature, etc.
   
2. Spends 50% of shift sitting for desk work, and the other 50% of shift completing patient care, such as patient education in hospital rooms. Inpatient consultations are in patient rooms, which require ambulating up to 300 feet from office to room and furthest ambulation distance of 500 feet for navigating facility. Assists with patient transportation in wheelchairs as necessary requiring 40 horizontal force pounds of up to 100 feet. Travels frequently for community outreach, speaking, and educational engagements. Transports own supplies while travelling, with a box weighing up to 25 pounds, transporting approximately 100 feet to/from facility. Office work requires lifting up to 6 pounds from 4 inch to 81-inch-high storage. Assists with Medical Management Program to help provide education. In emergency situations, required to transfer to floor for assisting patients.
   
3. Direct exposure to body substances during patient care activities and on contaminated surfaces such as patient equipment.

Management responsibilities

None

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.