Diabetes Educator RD

Job Summary

This position reports directly to the Director of Diabetes services. Key responsibilities include:

• Coordination of patient diabetes self-management and nutritional care through clinical assessment, education and documentation.
• Providing patient education with an understanding and awareness of age-specific needs.
• Assessing biological, emotional, developmental, psychological, nutritional, and patient/family education needs.
• Fostering continuity of the Nutrition Care Process across all phases of the continuum of care.
• Providing nutrition education on recommended nutrition intervention(s).
• Functions as a diabetes resource on nutrition and diabetes management.

Core Responsibilities And Essential Functions

Develops, implements, and promotes quality services based on client expectations and needs.

• Collaborates with patient and/or family member, and health care team to assess DSMES (Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support) needs.
• Provides services and establishes goals based on identified needs.
• Applies knowledge and skills in developing, implementing, and maintaining nutrition care plans.
• Evaluates DSMES processes and patient outcomes and implements quality practice.
• Provides care according to organizational ethics, licensure, and Standards of Professional Practice for Dietetics Professionals.
• Utilizes Joint Commission and/or regulatory standards in the provision of DSMES.
• Affirms patient experience and empathy skills when interacting with patients and family members.
• Participates in appropriate committees and team member huddles.
• Engages in quality improvement initiatives and projects.

  Education Responsibilities

  Develops, implements, and promotes quality services based on client expectations and needs.

  • Collaborates with patient and/or family member, and health care team to assess DSMES (Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support) needs.
  • Provides services and establishes goals based on identified needs.
  • Applies knowledge and skills in developing, implementing, and maintaining nutrition care plans.
  • Evaluates DSMES processes and patient outcomes and implements quality practice.
  • Provides care according to organizational ethics, licensure, and Standards of Professional Practice for Dietetics Professionals.
  • Utilizes Joint Commission and/or regulatory standards in the provision of DSMES.
  • Affirms patient experience and empathy skills when interacting with patients and family members.
  • Participates in appropriate committees and team member huddles.
  • Engages in quality improvement initiatives and projects.

    Required Minimum Education

    • Bachelor’s Dietetics or Bachelor’s Nutrition or Master’s Dietetics (Preferred)

    Required Minimum License(s) And Certification(s)

    • BLS - Basic Life Support or ARC-BLS - Amer Red Cross Basic Life Support or BLS-I - Basic Life Support - Instructor
    • LD - Lic Dietician or RD - Registered Dietician
    • Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (Upon Hire)

    Additional License(s) And Certification(s)

    • Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist within 2 years (Required)

    Required Minimum Experience

    • Minimum 3 years clinical dietetics experience with emphasis on patient assessment, treatment, and education.
    • Completion of a supervised practice didactic program accredited by the Accreditation Counsel for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
    • Experience in treatment and education principles of patients with diabetes.

    Preferred and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

    • Within 2 years (Preferred)

    Computer Skills

    • Proactive planning for the educational needs of patients.
    • Participation in the development of departmental protocols, policies, and procedures.
    • Supports efficient and effective use of resources.
    • Proactive planning for the educational needs of patients in the course of providing education, support, and resources to patients/families.
    • Supports efficient and effective use of resources.

    Professional Development and Initiative

    • Completes all initial and ongoing professional competency assessment, required mandatory education, and population-specific education.
    • Serves as a preceptor and/or mentor for other department educators.
    • Engages in lifelong self-development to improve knowledge and skills that promote continued competence.
    • Conducts yearly self-assessment to identify professional strengths and weaknesses.
    • Identifies needs for professional development and mentors dietetic interns.
    • Documents professional development activities according to system policies.
    • Engage in continuous learning opportunities to further develop skills and capabilities in application technical and functional areas.

    Travel Requirements

    • Local via personal automobile.

    Required Minimum Skills

    • Professional communication skills.
    • Computer skills.
    • Knowledge of best practices in clinical nutrition and the dietetics profession.
    • Knowledge of Nutrition Care Process and its use in complex cases in the clinical setting.
    • Ability to think critically to apply nutrition interventions to patients with multiple comorbidities and/or special needs including self-management of diabetes.
    • Ability to maintain effective relationships with other healthcare professionals in sharing nutrition knowledge and expertise.
    • Ability to work with patient interests and health in mind.
    • Must be physically capable of initiating CPR.