Registered Nurse (RN)/Registered Dietician - Certified Diabetes Educator (Orland Park+)

Must have CDCES certification and either RD or RN license.

Job Profile Summary

To coordinate and facilitate education of the diabetes patient outpatient population, by acting as a liaison between patients, families, and medical staff.

Major Responsibilities:

• Accountable for organizing, educating and scheduling patients for the Outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Program.
• Provides consultation for patients and families regarding diabetes therapy; encourage family participation.
• Participates in instructing outpatient groups and one-on-one sessions.
• Participates in scheduling and registering outpatients for classes as needed.
• Documents outpatient education in the patient’s medical record.
• Develops teaching tools and teaching aides as needed. Orders appropriate teaching aids and tools, monitors supplies.

Serves as a resource/clinical expert for identified diabetes inpatients.

• Assists with education of all newly diagnosed patients.
• Assesses needs of complicated diabetes patients per referral.
• Reinforces education to patients / families as requested.
• Makes multi-disciplinary referrals as indicated.
• Consults with Medical Staff as needed.
• Provides training / education for monitoring equipment.
• Documents patient interventions in their medical record.
   

Serves as a resource / clinical expert for hospital staff.

• Provides input and guidance to nursing staff regarding education of diabetes patients.
• Provides hospital staff with adequate supplies of Diabetes educational materials.
• Ongoing education of hospital staff regarding changes in practice as it relates to diabetes management.

Advancement of Professional Growth and Knowledge.

• Obtain and maintain CDE certification.
• Maintain professional education related to diabetes through readings, workshops, and professional memberships.
• Maintains education file and participate in yearly evaluation by review date.
• Plan and/or participate in any diabetes related activities offered to the community, e.g. glucose monitoring, screening, lectures.

Education/Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition.
• 2-3 years nutrition experience with exposure to diabetes patients.
• Experience with computer entry and retrieval.
• Experience with insulin pump therapy.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent planning & organizational skills.
• Excellent crisis intervention and prioritization.
• Excellent physician relationships.
• Knowledge of blood glucose monitoring equipment, and diabetes assistive devices
• Demonstrate leadership & teaching abilities.
• Requires knowledge & understanding of:
  • Child growth & development
  • Normal patterns of Adolescent behavior
  • Signs of normal aging

• Current RD license in the State of Illinois
• Specialty CDE certification within 18 months of hire.
   

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Flexible hours according to customer needs.
• Work under stressful/difficult conditions.
• Ability to perform physical tasks such as patient lifting / transfer activities related to patients (up to 50 lbs. may be required) and moving equipment.
• This position needs to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups of patients treated.
• Good visual acuity and color discrimination.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
  
  
   

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.