Diabetes Care Nurse Educator (RN)

Description

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Physician Practices and in collaboration with the Practice Physician and Chief Nursing Officer, the Diabetes Care Nurse Educator (RN) provides comprehensive diabetes self-management education and support to patients with diabetes and related metabolic conditions. Within the authorized scope of registered nursing practice, the Nurse Educator assesses educational needs, develops and implements individualized education plans, reinforces provider-directed treatment plans, monitors patient progress, and promotes sustainable self-management behaviors. The position collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and other interdisciplinary team members to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered education and care coordination. The Nurse Educator supports the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of diabetes education programs, workflows, teaching resources, quality initiatives, and population health strategies. Services are provided in accordance with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, nursing standards, and organizational policies. This role requires strong nursing judgment, effective teaching and communication skills, and the ability to work independently while maintaining collaborative relationships with providers and the interdisciplinary care team.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

Nursing Assessment and Education Planning

• Performs nursing and educational assessments for patients with diabetes and related metabolic conditions in accordance with the authorized scope of practice, applicable laws, and EHS policies.
• Establishes rapport and obtains relevant health, medication, learning, cultural, literacy, readiness, and social information to guide individualized education.
• Identifies knowledge gaps, barriers to self-management, psychosocial needs, risk factors, and signs or symptoms requiring provider review.
• Develops, implements, evaluates, and updates individualized diabetes education plans based on provider-directed treatment plans, patient needs, evidence-based standards, and measurable goals.
• Provides education on prescribed oral, injectable, insulin, and other therapies, including safe administration, monitoring, storage, adherence, and recognition of adverse effects.
• Teaches the safe and effective use of blood glucose monitoring systems, continuous glucose monitoring devices, insulin delivery devices, and other diabetes technologies.
• Reviews available clinical data and patient-reported outcomes, communicates relevant findings to the authorized provider, and reinforces the established plan of care.
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of acute and chronic diabetes-related complications, including hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, provides nursing interventions within scope, and promptly escalates concerns to the appropriate provider.
• Educates patients about cardiovascular risk reduction and common comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and renal disease, in coordination with the plan of care.
• Promotes provider-recommended preventive care, including laboratory monitoring, renal assessment, foot care, retinal screening, cardiovascular risk assessment, and immunizations.

Patient Education and Self-Management

• Educates patients and families about diabetes, prescribed medications, nutrition, physical activity, glucose monitoring, diabetes technology, weight management, complication prevention, sick-day management, and sustainable lifestyle changes.
• Uses adult-learning principles, health-literacy best practices, motivational interviewing, teach-back, and culturally responsive methods in individual and group education.
• Promotes patient independence by establishing individualized, measurable learning and behavioral goals and evaluating progress toward those goals.

Care Coordination and Clinical Leadership

• Collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and other interdisciplinary team members to coordinate education, treatment support, follow-up, and care management.
• Serves as a nursing and educational resource to clinical staff regarding diabetes care, workflows, technologies, and patient teaching within the appropriate scope of practice.
• Supports continuity of care by communicating assessment findings, education provided, patient progress, barriers, concerns, and follow-up needs to providers and other team members.
• Facilitates provider-directed referrals to specialty and support services, including endocrinology, cardiology, nephrology, ophthalmology, podiatry, nutrition, behavioral health, and pharmacy.
• Supports the orientation, training, development, and mentoring of clinical staff involved in Diabetes Clinic services.

Program Development and Quality Improvement

• Helps develop, implement, and evaluate Diabetes Clinic protocols, workflows, standing orders, patient education programs, and evidence-based care standards.
• Supports population health initiatives by identifying uncontrolled diabetes, care gaps, overdue monitoring, and other opportunities for intervention.
• Participates in quality improvement activities and monitors relevant diabetes outcomes and performance measures.
• Promotes efficient patient flow, timely access, clinical productivity, and responsible use of organizational resources.

Documentation, Compliance, and Professional Development

• Maintains accurate, timely, and complete electronic medical records of nursing assessments, education plans, interventions, patient understanding, progress, care coordination, and follow-up needs.
• Completes documentation within established EHS timeframes to support continuity of care, medical necessity, regulatory compliance, quality reporting, and appropriate reimbursement.
• Safeguards patient and organizational information and maintains confidentiality in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and organized work environment in compliance with applicable procedures, regulations, infection-control standards, and patient safety requirements.
• Maintains professional and technical competence through continuing education and current knowledge of diabetes medications, technologies, treatment guidelines, and evidence-based standards.
• Participates in required departmental, organizational, clinical, and educational meetings and activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the position, licensure, and training.

Requirements

Minimum Level of Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited nursing program required. Master’s degree in nursing, education, public health, or a related field preferred.

Formal Training: Registered Nurse education and clinical training, with demonstrated knowledge of diabetes and chronic disease management, disease prevention, patient education, motivational interviewing, behavior-change strategies, and evidence-based practice. Requires strong nursing assessment, care coordination, teaching, communication, and counseling skills for patients with diabetes and related metabolic conditions. Experience in curriculum development, group education, quality improvement, workflow optimization, and population health initiatives is strongly preferred.

Licensure, Certification, and Registration: Must maintain a current, unencumbered Georgia license as a Registered Nurse and current Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification. Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) credential is preferred and, if not held at the time of hire, must be obtained within the timeframe established by the organization and maintained thereafter.

Work Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of professional nursing experience in primary care, family medicine, internal medicine, endocrinology, ambulatory care, or a related setting is required. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated experience in diabetes education, chronic disease management, care coordination, population health, and individual or group patient education.

Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and electronic health record/electronic medical record (EHR/EMR) systems is required. Experience using telehealth, patient education platforms, population health tools, and clinical decision-support systems is preferred.