RN - Diabetic Educator

SCHEDULE: Full-time; 36 hours per week; Four days per week; Monday - Friday

The RN Diabetic Educator serves as a liaison between the patient/client who has diabetes, support persons, the referring medical practitioner and other members of the health care team. Assesses patient/client education needs, coordinates all instructional materials and educational tools needed, and adapts the program to each individual who seeks to become well-informed about diabetes management and be in control of his or her disease. Serves as a consultant in the hospital, home or outpatient setting and as an educator for health care providers and other groups and organizations in the community.

Graduate from an approved professional nursing program and passage of certified diabetes education exam (national). A minimum of 15 hours of continuing education in diabetes management or diabetes education every one year. Current Iowa nursing license. Three years' experience as an RN, including experience with diabetic patients. Understands and utilizes the nursing process; possesses technical skills and knowledge of equipment.

Assesses and develops a plan for diabetes education based on nursing diagnosis. Completes the diabetic assessment record and other forms for diabetes education. Consults as needed with other members of the health care team. Implements and evaluates/revises teaching plan of care. Provides and documents diabetes education as identified for individual patient/client. Updates diabetes-teaching plan based on continued assessment of patient/client. Provides diabetes education to inpatients and outpatients upon referral from a medical practitioner. Provides diabetes education suitable for the age, emotional and intellectual responsiveness, visual acuity and manual skills of the patient/client by assessing special needs, adopting and individualizing education to the level of the greatest practical application. Coordinates the Diabetes Support Group by planning programs for continued update on diabetes treatment and control and provides an opportunity for people with diabetes and family members to come together to share concerns, problems, successes and coping strategies regarding their life with diabetes. Communicates diabetes education at the appropriate level of understanding of the patient/client/significant other. Communicates pertinent/appropriate information to the medical practitioner, nursing staff and other health care members to enhance diabetes education. Note: This is a partial list of key job areas. For a complete job description, contact HR.