RN - Certified Diabetes Educator

Hours:

40 hours weekly, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Location:

Lowell General Hospital - Diabetes and Endocrine, Dracut, MA

This role focuses on providing professional and nonprofessional nursing care services in accordance with physician orders. The position is responsible for delivering diabetes self‑management education to patients and their families in preparation for discharge home. Patients with complex illness and learning needs will be referred for health teaching and counseling to promote wellness and avoid complications.

• Coordinates patient self‑management initiatives in a family‑centric, multi‑disciplinary program for patients with diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, steroid‑induced, and cystic‑fibrosis related) and their families.
• Works with patients diagnosed with diabetes and their families to facilitate improving self‑management age‑specific goals; provides lifestyle coaching and conducts one‑on‑one patient visits in a hospital clinic setting as well as group visits.
• Provides patient education; collaborates with outside community resources.
• Provides case management, including oversight and interpretation of laboratory results; orders therapeutics, durable medical supplies and refills for prescription medications; coordinates referrals and diagnostic studies as needed.
• Functions as an expert clinician and diabetes educator to improve patient care and clinical outcomes in the hospital setting.
• Participates in and maintains awareness of performance improvement initiatives.
• Conscientiously evaluates and integrates evidence‑based practice and research into clinical practice.
• Conducts and documents accurate clinical assessments.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates the patient’s individualized plan of care.
• Uses professional nursing judgment to individualize the plan of care based on assessment of the patient’s needs.
• Manages own patient assignments by delegating effectively based on patient needs and team members’ skills.
• Develops a comprehensive educational plan for the patient and family, utilizes appropriate resources, and documents according to department standards.
• Recognizes patient/family rights through support of informed decisions and advanced directives.
• Continually evaluates and revises the care plan according to changes in the patient’s health status.
• Develops a comprehensive discharge plan utilizing appropriate resources and referrals, including community resources.
• Supports the development of new staff members and facilitates their transition into the unit.
• Guides the professional growth of department staff through precepting.
• Participates in professional development by identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate education.
• Participates in departmental committees as needed.

• Massachusetts RN Licensure.
• Three (3) years of RN experience.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Certification in Diabetes Education (CDE) or must obtain within one year of hire.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

• Occasional lifting of 30–35 lbs and turning patients.
• Prolonged standing and walking.
• Occasional twisting, bending, reaching, pushing/pulling, sitting, kneeling, and squatting.
• Exposure to infectious disease and possible carcinogenic chemicals.
• Exposure to blood‑borne pathogens.
• Requires fine manual dexterity to lift and maneuver patients.
• Requires visual and aural acuity necessary to monitor patient care.

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, physicians, and healthcare team.
• Knowledge of and application of the nursing process.

$40.53 – $51.67 per hour