Diabetes Educator I, II or III, Ambulatory

Sutter Health•Sacramento, CA

3d•$102,856 - $158,725

About The Position

The Diabetes Educator provides diabetes self-management education and training (DSMT) and/or medical nutrition therapy (MNT) to individuals, family members, and groups. The role manages the care of a distinct patient population by assessing educational needs, nutritional guidelines, lifestyle intervention goals, and counseling needs. The educator coordinates care with physicians, pharmacists, case managers, social workers, and other healthcare providers to develop individualized approaches involving medication, therapy, nutrition, and devices. These approaches help patients build skills and make behavior changes to control their disease, avoid potential complications, and improve quality of life. The educator works autonomously with a regular patient panel, maintaining ongoing care and follow-up between provider visits, often in a diabetes or endocrinology clinic. The role makes care decisions within its scope of practice and recommends medication adjustments to physicians or advanced practice clinicians. The posting describes three levels: Diabetes Educator I, II, and III, with progressively advanced experience and qualifications. Level I is expected to gather the required hours to become eligible for and sit for the CDCES exam within two years of hire. Levels II and III generally require recent relevant experience and CDCES certification, subject to the stated exception for employees hired before May 3, 2024. The position is scheduled for 40 hours per week on weekdays, with no weekend requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, or a related field.
Registered Dietitian (RD) credential.
Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider (BLS) certification; not required for fully remote Level II incumbents.
Complete credentialing within 45 days of hire and before billing.
Demonstrated knowledge and competency in diabetes education, clinical judgment, and technical skills appropriate to the position level.
Knowledge of diabetes monitoring and management equipment, including blood glucose monitors, insulin injection devices, and associated software.
Knowledge of adult learning theory and ability to provide individual and group education.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and EPIC for electronic medical record entry and updates.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate technical or sensitive information professionally to diverse audiences.
Ability to interact compassionately and effectively with patients and staff across diverse ages, backgrounds, cultures, values, beliefs, and behaviors.
Ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams and independently, including managing multiple tasks in an environment with interruptions.
Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and work within defined policies, procedures, and practices.
Ability to make independent judgments and treatment decisions within scope of practice.
Ability to carry and autonomously manage a regular patient panel and maintain ongoing patient care.
For Level I, gather required hours to become eligible for and sit for the CDCES exam within two years of hire.
For Level II, two years of recent relevant experience and CDCES certification, except for employees hired before May 3, 2024, who have the stated two-year allowance.
For Level III, five years of recent relevant experience, CDCES/CDE certification subject to the stated exception for employees hired before May 3, 2024, and at least one additional qualifying certification or qualification.
For Level III, additional qualification may be a Board Certified Specialist credential in a listed nutrition specialty, another eating disorder certification, or pump trainer certification on two or more devices.

Nice To Haves

Level III additional certification or qualification: Board Certified in Gerontological Nutrition, Obesity and Weight Management, Oncology Nutrition, Pediatric Nutrition, Renal Nutrition, or Sports Dietetics; another eating disorder certification; or certified pump trainer on two or more devices.
Experience providing informal guidance and support to junior team members.
Advanced expertise in diabetes monitoring and management equipment and adult learning theory.

Responsibilities

Provide diabetes self-management education and training and/or medical nutrition therapy to individuals, family members, and groups.
Assess patients’ educational needs, nutrition guidelines, lifestyle intervention goals, and counseling needs.
Manage and maintain ongoing care for a regular panel of patients, including follow-up between provider visits.
Coordinate individualized patient care with physicians, pharmacists, case managers, social workers, and other healthcare providers.
Develop individualized protocols involving medication, therapy, nutrition, and devices to support disease management and quality of life.
Make independent judgments and treatment decisions within scope of practice, and recommend medication adjustments to physicians or advanced practice clinicians.
Collaborate with diabetes clinic or endocrinology providers to extend care beyond provider visits.
Enter and update electronic medical records using Microsoft Office applications and EPIC.
Provide individual and group education on diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Use motivational interviewing, behavioral counseling, and group facilitation skills to support patient education and behavior change.
For Level II and III roles, use experience and established procedures to address atypical or infrequent problems and provide informal guidance to junior team members.
For Level III roles, apply critical thinking to problems without standard procedures or in atypical situations.