Inpatient Diabetes Educator

FLSA Status

Exempt

Job Role Summary

The Inpatient Diabetes Educator strives for improved patient care for diabetes with a focus on positive outcomes through five primary roles of clinician, consultant, educator, research and leader. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

•    Proactively contributes to Eskenazi Health’s mission: Advocate, Care, Teach and Serve with special emphasis on the vulnerable population of Marion County; models Eskenazi Health values of Professionalism, Respect, Innovation, Development, and Excellence 
•    Utilizes specialized knowledge and expertise to facilitate delivery of care to patients with diabetes in hospital, emergency and clinical decision units, and/or high risk specialty clinics
•    Evaluates the status of the patient, develops care plans following the established standards of care, provides diabetes counseling to patients and their families that is age-specific, cultural, religious, and ethnic sensitive for health and disease promotion/prevention; monitors in accordance with the patient’s treatment goals 
•    Educates consumers and professional audiences by incorporating a variety of learning strategies, behavioral and readiness change techniques, learning principles, and culturally and literacy sensitive educational media tailored for the client; creates learning materials, develops annual nursing and dietitian education in-services, and participates in new hire orientation 
•    Reviews and critiques research literature related to diabetes and promotes research utilization; provides oversight to diabetes data across the organization, collecting data through reports/flowsheets, interpreting data and communicating results; ensures current best practices are translated to policies and procedures to support optimal care   
•    Maintains relationships with external customers to utilize latest technologies for optimal patient care related to continuous glucose monitors, glucometers, insulin pump therapy, and others; educates professional staff on clinical practice integration
•    Serves as Diabetes Service Line Committee facilitator; role includes setting meeting dates, formulating agendas and completion of meeting minutes; participates in shared governance councils as needed; holds a lead role in multidisciplinary teams, units and team meetings 
•    Serves as a mentor for learners in all disciplines, new staff, or staff applying for advanced practice certification
 

Job Requirements

•    Graduate of an accredited school of nursing or dietetics 
•    Master’s degree in related field
•    Current clinical licensure as RN or RD 
•    Active Certified Diabetes Educator credential or obtain within 12 months of hire
•    Must have one-year clinical diabetes care experience outside of internship
 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

 •    Ability to assess system needs and function autonomously to develop and implement programs to improve diabetes patient care
•    Ability to collaborate with other members of the health care team to enhance all aspects of patient care across the continuum
•    Ability to demonstrate leadership abilities by serving as a role model, mentor and change agent to influence diabetes patient outcomes
•    Ability to conduct product, program and/or process value analysis including complete financial implications involved in implementation of the product or program
•    Ability to review/critique pertinent research literature related to diabetes care and promote research utilization to improve patient care
•    Ability to demonstrate excellent communication skills related to team development, group process, conflict management, and negotiation
•    Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served; must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data/interpret appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to age-specific needs; ability to use age appropriate communication and cognitive skills detailed in the department/area/unit job specific/age specific competencies