RN Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

RN Diabetes Care And Education Specialist

The Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center (HSDHC) and Adult Endocrinology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is a nationally recognized center of excellence providing comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence-based care for children and adults living with Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and a variety of endocrine disorders.

Serving primarily patients from Oregon and Washington, the Center provides specialized care for individuals who are newly diagnosed, require ongoing disease management, experience chronic complications, or are hospitalized due to their condition. In the ambulatory setting, care is provided through both in-person and telemedicine visits.

Patients are referred by physicians and other healthcare clinicians and have access to a broad range of interdisciplinary services, including Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES), behavioral health, Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), diabetes technology education and training, caregiver education, and opportunities to participate in related clinical trials.

The RN Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (DCES) is an integral member of the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center's (HSDHC) interdisciplinary care team, providing comprehensive, evidence-based Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support/Training (DSMES/T) to individuals living with diabetes and their families/caregivers. Using advanced clinical judgment, the RN DCES assesses patients' clinical, educational, and psychosocial needs to develop individualized education plans that promote safe self-management, improve health outcomes, and support successful transitions of care.

The RN practices in accordance with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) guidance, and the ADCES7 Self-Care Behavior framework.

The RN DCES provides individualized and group DSMES/T through scheduled in-person and telehealth visits, delivering education on diabetes self-management, medication administration, healthy coping, nutrition, physical activity, glucose monitoring, risk reduction, problem solving, and diabetes technologies, including insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. Responsibilities include assessing patient readiness to learn; initiating and supporting diabetes technologies; triaging urgent patient concerns;

coordinating interdisciplinary care; placing durable medical equipment (DME) orders; facilitating structured DSMES classes; providing just-in-time education during provider visits; and supporting medication and technology initiation according to organizational policies, protocols, and delegated practice agreements.

The RN DCES serves as a clinical resource for patients, families, healthcare professionals, and the interdisciplinary care team, promoting evidence-based diabetes care across the continuum. The RN collaborates closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, dietitians, behavioral health specialists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated, patient-centered care.

The RN DCES also contributes to quality improvement, program development, and organizational initiatives that advance evidence-based diabetes care and support the ADA-recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program. Responsibilities include collecting and documenting clinical outcomes; participating in performance improvement initiatives; supporting regulatory, accreditation, and quality reporting requirements; contributing to the development and revision of clinical workflows, educational resources, and policies;

and promoting continuous improvement in patient safety, clinical outcomes, and the patient experience.

• Minimum two (2) years of clinical nursing experience in the last 5 years.
• Minimum of one (1) year of ambulatory care experience providing Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support/Training (DSMES/T) using the ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors framework.
• BSN Graduates:
  Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from a program accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) 30 days before start date.
• ADN Graduates:
  Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited program 30 days before the start date.
• Associate degree Nurses required to enroll in BSN program within 3 years of hire and complete within 5 years of hire.
• Current, unencumbered Oregon State Registered Nurse License.
• Current, unencumbered Washington State Registered Nurse license or ability to obtain within three months of hire.
• BLS from AHA required. New hires will be enrolled and required to complete during orientation.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation.