Certified Diabetes Educator

Children's National Hospital

3d • $73,195 - $121,971 • Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Diabetes Educator provides diabetes education and care to children, adolescents, young adults, and their families with newly diagnosed or established diabetes in inpatient and outpatient settings. Education is delivered individually, in groups or classrooms, and electronically, including by telephone and web-based methods, in consultation with physicians and advanced practice nursing staff.

The educator assesses patients’ learning needs and skills, develops and implements education and treatment plans, documents care, and follows up to evaluate learning goals. The role supports families with diabetes self-management, including meal planning and carbohydrate counting, exercise planning, daily schedule adjustments, responding to high and low blood glucose, and sick-day management. The educator also supports diabetes research projects, helps maintain American Diabetes Association recognition of the Diabetes Education Program, participates in school-based staff education as needed, and provides care at satellite clinic locations as needed. Practice follows applicable laws and regulations, professional standards, and Children's National policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Nutrition Science, or a related field.
• At least one year of pediatric diabetes-related experience.
• Registered Nurse or Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist license.
• Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) certification through the American Diabetes Association; one year is specified as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing patients on insulin pumps and using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems.

Responsibilities

• Assess the education and skills needs of patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes managed with oral medications, insulin injections, and insulin pumps.
• Provide diabetes self-management education to patients and families individually, in groups or classrooms, and electronically.
• Develop, document, and implement patient education and treatment plans; evaluate learning needs and follow up on learning goals.
• Help families make diabetes self-care decisions, including meal planning and carbohydrate counting, exercise planning, daily schedule adjustments, and responses to high and low blood glucose readings.
• Assist families with sick-day management guidelines and coordinate resources.
• Support research-based projects and help maintain ADA certification or recognition for the Diabetes Education Program.
• Participate in school-based staff in-service days and diabetes clinics at satellite locations as needed.
• Provide education to patients and families with newly diagnosed and established diabetes in accordance with diabetes educator practice standards and relevant content standards.
• Help patients and families educate other caregivers, including school staff, to support safe transitions and functioning at school.
• Provide on-call diabetes education on weekends and holidays.
• Obtain continuing education in diabetes management, behavioral intervention, teaching, learning, and counseling.
• Download blood glucose meters, initiate CGMs, and collaborate with physicians to interpret results and adjust therapy as needed.
• Maintain knowledge of diabetes self-management products and educational materials, and maintain proficiency with computer software used for diabetes care and education.
• Develop tools and forms as needed to document the teaching and learning process.
• Participate in morning huddles and departmental and diabetes team meetings.
• Facilitate patient flow and download blood glucose meters at diabetes clinics as needed.
• Recognize abnormal diabetes laboratory results and take appropriate action in collaboration with a physician.
• Provide daily phone triage and serve as a point of contact for patients, families, schools, and community organizations.
• Communicate patient and family strengths and needs to diabetes team members.
• Collaborate with nursing staff, the diabetes team, and other health professionals on patient and family education and diabetes-care system changes.
• Explain the intent of diabetes policies to staff and families in an understandable and unbiased manner.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with community diabetes product representatives.
• Participate in maintaining ADA Program recognition and attend annual Advisory Committee meetings.
• Set patient care and education priorities to meet the needs of patients, staff, and hospital responsibilities.
• Advance professional practice through participation in ADA, AADE, and other diabetes-care organizations.
• Model conflict management.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement of educational processes and present at hospital, community, and national education forums as opportunities arise.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health coverage.
• Paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
• 401(k) plan.
• Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
• Tuition assistance.
• Fitness resources.
• Employee assistance.
• Commuter benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level