Registered Nurse- Diabetes Educator

Veterans Health Administration • Des Moines, IA

4h • Onsite

About The Position

The Diabetes Educator is a Registered Nurse responsible for providing competent, evidence-based diabetes education to staff and patients throughout the medical facility. The role systematically evaluates current practice and formulates appropriate diabetes-related outcomes for patient groups and organizational processes within the nurse’s area of expertise. The position coordinates diabetes education focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the healthcare continuum, and serves as a consultant in patient diabetes care principles and performance measures. The nurse collaborates with Clinical Nurse Educators, interprofessional healthcare teams, leadership, and unit managers to support clinical education and identify staff training needs. The position is with the Department of Veterans Affairs and supports its Whole Health System approach, which empowers Veterans to take charge of their health and well-being through personalized health plans, healing relationships, healing environments, and connection to the Veteran’s community.

The position follows established policies and guidelines and participates in department-level quality improvement initiatives and customer service programs. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 0800–1630. Compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an eligible accredited school of professional nursing, or an accepted qualifying alternative described in the posting.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable VA Nurse grade and level requirements for education and professional nursing experience.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, pre-employment physical evaluation, and drug testing if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• A probationary period may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Currently holds or is working toward the required certification in diabetes education.

Responsibilities

• Provide and/or supervise staff and patient diabetes education, and remain accountable for all elements of the nursing process.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate diabetes education needs to facilitate learner development and skills training.
• Use innovative teaching strategies, assessment skills, and evaluation of outcomes.
• Coordinate diabetes education focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the healthcare continuum.
• Follow procedures established by policies and guidelines.
• Participate actively in department-level quality improvement processes, initiatives, and customer service programs.
• Collaborate with Clinical Nurse Educators and interprofessional healthcare teams on in-services, training, competency assessments, and evaluations of current and new staff nursing skills.
• Serve as a consultant on patient diabetes care principles and performance measures.
• Review current nursing literature for new diabetes trends and evidence-based changes, and propose practice and documentation revisions based on evaluation of outcomes.
• Use best practices and benchmarking to establish realistic goals for patient diabetes care initiatives.
• Collaborate with leadership and unit managers to identify diabetes education training needs for staff.
• Take appropriate action to attain and/or maintain Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) certification.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree