Registered Nurse - Diabetes Care & Education Specialist (CDCES)

Parkland Health

About The Position

Provides complex or specialty clinical care for people living with diabetes in accordance with established protocols and a multidisciplinary plan of care. Uses independent and interdependent interventions to restore stability, prevent complications, and achieve and maintain optimal patient responses through patient-centered, patient-valued care. Provides individualized diabetes self-management education and support to patients and their support persons. The role may be filled by a registered nurse or a dietitian with the required education and experience. Dietitian Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists may perform the described diabetes education duties except physically injecting a patient. Work is full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, or a bachelor's degree in food and nutrition.
Three years of clinical experience providing direct care to people with diabetes and associated conditions.
Current, valid Registered Nurse license or temporary RN license from the Texas Board of Nursing, or a valid Compact RN license, for RN applicants.
Current healthcare provider BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network.
Obtain Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) or Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) certification from the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) within six months of hire and/or job placement.
RN applicants must pass the Dosage Calculation Exam with a score of 85% or above before hospital orientation. Current Parkland employees requesting reassignment must have a current Dosage Calculation Exam on file.
Ability to provide individualized diabetes self-management education and support in accordance with the Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice, and Competencies for a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist.
Effective interpersonal skills and good oral and written communication skills with colleagues, patients, and families.
Basic computer skills and working knowledge of database programs, data report analysis software, and electronic medical record charting.
Ability to demonstrate person-centered, patient-valued behavior.
For nurses, ability to provide care to the assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical-area-specific standards.
Certification cards must show an expiration date more than 30 days from the date of hire; course completion certificates do not substitute for this requirement.
Equivalent combinations of education and/or experience may be accepted in lieu of the specified education and/or experience.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual oral and written Spanish skills.
For dietitians, advanced knowledge of nutrition and patient education skills.

Responsibilities

Help establish a clear, timely, coordinated referral process for community-based, ambulatory, and/or inpatient Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) and support.
Conduct comprehensive patient assessments, collect relevant medical data, and document assessment information, educational plans and services, evaluation results, and recommended or coordinated discharge and support services in the medical record. Document community diabetes education activities according to established processes.
Evaluate the effectiveness of DSME services by measuring attainment of learning objectives through patient or family demonstration and/or verbalization.
Participate in continuous quality improvement processes to measure DSME and identify and address opportunities for improvement in Parkland and community-based activities.
Collaborate with patients, multidisciplinary teams, and referring providers to develop educational goals, learning objectives, content, teaching methods, and individualized support plans for patients referred for DSME and relevant community diabetes education activities.
Provide educational interventions using interactive, collaborative, skill-based training methods.
Coordinate with multidisciplinary diabetes care team members, including clinical, business, and community partners and support personnel, to optimize diabetes self-management.
Advocate for patients and communities by focusing on their needs, rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences.
Maintain positive working relationships with Parkland internal and external customers, employees, and community partners, and serve as a resource for patients, physicians, healthcare team members, and community partners.
Participate in developing health professional, patient-centered, and community education programs and resources in live, print, online, or other formats to support diabetes care and desired patient, health system, and community outcomes.
Identify opportunities to provide and receive peer education and direction within the multidisciplinary framework of diabetes management and education.
Advocate for and implement the American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes and the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.
Lead and/or participate in assigned community outreach activities, such as health fairs, community collaborations, or outreach clinics; serve on diabetes-related committees and complete assigned special projects, including possible community projects.
For dietitian roles, screen patients for nutritional risk when applicable; assess and reassess nutritional status; consult with physicians and support staff; develop individualized care plans; calculate age-appropriate calorie and protein needs; modify diets based on patient needs; and document relevant patient status and care information.
For dietitian roles, instruct, educate, and counsel patients of all ages and their significant others in nutritional therapy; individualize instructions and educational materials to patient needs; teach medical nutrition therapy classes as appropriate; and document comprehension and follow-up needs.
Perform additional duties as assigned.