Nurse Clinician Diabetes Educator

Exemption Status:

Hiring Range:

Please note that the final offer may vary within this range based on a candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

Schedule Details:

Scheduled Hours:

Shift:

Hours:

Cost Center:

This position may have a signing bonus available a member of the Recruitment Team will confirm eligibility during the interview process.

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver - regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.

I. Major Responsibilities:

1. Utilizes the nursing process, motivational interviewing techniques, and patient education principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate diabetes self management plans for patients with diabetes across the continuum and cultures. Conducts an assessment of the patient's knowledge base of diabetes, his/her readiness to learn, motivation to adhere with provider regimen and identifies any learning barriers including physical, cognitive, environmental, cultural, language, financial, psychological and spiritual and provides appropriate referral as necessary.
2. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of pre-diabetes, prevention of diabetes, and adult diabetes management concepts and skills including insulin starts, insulin to carb ratios, mealtime insulin based upon insulin to carb ratio, insulin pump therapy, glucose sensor training, continuous glucose monitoring, and prevention of diabetes complications.
3. Designs an individualized teaching plan according to provider treatment plan, in conjunction with multi-disciplinary team and based upon mutually agreed goals with patient and family. Participates in the development of telehealth and or shared medical appointment initiatives when feasible. Communicates with referring physician if referral is beyond scope of practice and discusses other referrals as necessary.
4. Works collaboratively and innovatively with referring providers and clinic staff to improve access to care for newly diagnosed diabetes patients. Insure patient and family member understand the proper use of insulin, insulin pumps, oral medications, signs of symptoms of hypoglycemia, DKA, prevention of complications of diabetes, sick day regimens, use of diabetes devices, glucometers and diabetes software management programs.
5. Educates and motivates patients/families by imparting the pathophysiological and epidemiological basis for the disease process. Articulates clinical practice guidelines associated with the AADE7 self-care behaviors framework. Assess the behaviors and motivation of the patient and family to facilitate lifestyle modification in patients and prevent and/or reduce co-morbidities associated with chronic disease of diabetes.
6. Implements medical, behavioral and educational plans to improve adherence with comprehensive plan of care as above and facilitates problem solving to prevent short term and long term complications of diabetes.
7. Utilizes evidenced based practice, patient centered care, adult teaching-learning methods and motivational interviewing techniques to guide practice and provide education and improve adherence in chronic disease management for patients and families.
8. Documents all content which includes educational assessments, planning, intervention, behavioral goal setting, and outcomes accordingly and accurately in electronic medical record. Demonstrates proficiency within the expected timeframe for charge entry, monthly statistics, in accordance with ADA recognition and in compliance with UMMHC compliance and regulatory standards, insurance payer mandates, and Diabetes Center of Excellence standards.
9. Demonstrates flexibility, innovation, fiscal responsibility and full engagement in the development of the Diabetes Center of Excellence and Accountable Care Organization.
10. Evaluates patient's response to treatment modalities and reassesses/revises plan of care as needed to help patient attain goals. Communicates with referring provider and documents as above.
11. Assesses impact of social, economic, literacy and cultural aspects and circumstances. Models culturally competent behavior and works to remove barriers to help patients and family attain optimum health goals.
12. Continuously monitors appointment schedules and prioritizes referrals to accommodate newly diagnosed and high risk patients to improve access and decrease lag time.
13. Provides education and motivational sessions through individualized sessions and group classes.
14. Provides follow-up communication via telephone, mail, or email as indicated in post education classes in accordance with established department guidelines and provider requests.
15. Responsible for keeping educational content and handouts current in individual and class sessions. Works collaboratively with Registered Dietician to update all medical and nutrition materials in concert with American Association of Diabetes Education practice guidelines and American Diabetes Association requirements.
16. Actively participates in raising awareness of diabetes via Diabetes Center of Excellence events, educating healthcare providers and the community through talks on diabetes, health fairs, regional meetings, interdisciplinary rounds, resident, fellow, precepting clinic staff, and being a resource for educational material
17. Demonstrates a commitment to Diabetes Center of Excellence team by volunteering for special projects; collaborating with team; providing clinical expertise; identifying patients for research; and offering insights to patient care while sharing in the care of the diabetes clinic patients.
18. Demonstrates professional commitment to maintaining proficiency with current diabetes management tools, evidence based clinical practice, patient education methods and materials, and behavioral techniques to improve patient adherence to chronic disease management. This is accomplished through membership in specialty organizations and self development.
19. Maintains national diabetes educator credentials and acts in accordance with competencies set forth by the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
20. Participates in practice changes as a result of performance improvement team activities.
21. Provides nursing leadership in system re-design for diabetes patient education as required.
22.

Standard Staffing Level Responsibilities:
1. Complies with established departmental policies and procedures, and clinical and research objectives.
2. Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed to meet departmental goals.
3. Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
4. Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
5. Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
6. Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
7. Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.

All responsibilities are essential job functions.

II. Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education:
Required:
1. Associates degree from an accredited program in nursing.

2. Current licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Massachusetts.

3. Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credential required within two years of hire. Proficiency in Microsoft word required, experience and proficiency with electronic medical records required, knowledge of MS excel and Power Point preferred.

Preferred:

1. BSN degree in nursing from an accredited program.

2. Additional registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration

Experience/Skill:

Required:

1. Thorough knowledge of the discipline of Nursing.

2. Ability to influence the quality of patient care in an advisory capacity to the physician and other health care team members.

3. Demonstrates skill in analyzing problems and making decisions.

4. Strong oral, written communication, and teamwork skills are essential to interact with patients, staff, and referring providers.

5. Proficiency in Microsoft Office products. Proficiency with electronic medical records.

Preferred:

1. Two years diabetes related experience.

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Department-specific competencies, including age-specific competencies and their measurements, will be developed and maintained in the individual departments. The competencies will be maintained and attached to the departmental job description. Responsible managers will review competencies with position incumbents.

III. Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions:

Work is considered sedentary. Position requires work indoors in a clinic environment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We're striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health - for our patients, our community and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at talentacquisition@umassmemorial.org. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.