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+ Position Summary

+ Under general supervision, provides an accessible, therapeutic and systematic learning experience for people with diabetes and/or nutritional needs and their families. This learning experience is based on individual needs with promotion and maintenance of self-care management, optimal health and quality of life.

+ Ensures all actions taken in carrying out responsibilities support patient centered care.

+ Position Responsibilities

+ Unit Specific Position Responsibilities

+ Participates in precepting and mentoring while providing education / orientation to staff, students, and others.

+ Obtains a comprehensive nutritional assessment from patient and/or family.

+ Identifies patient/family’s specific diabetes self-management needs, goals, and specific behavioral changes.

+ Develops and implements an individualized plan of care based on assessment of the patient/family’s assessed learning needs, abilities, learning preferences, and readiness to learn.

+ Educates patient and/or family about all aspects of diabetes and diabetic health care, including:

+ diabetes disease processes and treatment options;

+ incorporating appropriate nutritional management

+ incorporating physical activity into lifestyle;

+ self-monitoring of blood glucose and urine ketones (when appropriate), and using results to improve control;

+ preventing, detecting, and treating acute complications;

+ preventing (through risk reduction behavior), detecting and treating chronic complications;

+ integrating psychosocial adjustment into daily life; and

+ management during pregnancy and gestational diabetes management (if applicable);

+ goal setting to promote health and problem solving for daily living; and

+ available health and community resources.

+ Provides follow-up evaluation of the patient/family’s attainment of identified self-management goals by telephone and/or office visits.

+ Prepares, reviews, and maintains current instructional materials/presentations on diabetes and nutrition related topics and utilizes only those approved by Mary Greeley Medical Center’s Diabetes Center.

+ Provides other nutritional care services based on assessing patient’s needs, including:

+ counseling on good nutrition by assessing diet history and food habits;

+ developing and implementing individualized plans of care;

+ determining appropriate calorie levels for diets;

+ evaluating nutrient adequacies and making recommendations; and

+ counseling on special diets to assure proper preparation and consumption of nourishments;

+ Consults with physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals as appropriate, concerning patient’s progress.

+ Documents and maintains complete data/information in patient’s record.

+ Demonstrates blood, glucose monitoring, prepares equipment for finger stick testing of blood sugars, and performs Quality Control monitoring as required by lab guidelines.

+ Arranges for needed patient testing.

+ Directs patients in making follow-up appointments and purchasing equipment and supplies.

+ Completes charge cards in a timely manner and identifies correct CPT codes.

+ Takes into consideration the age, growth and development of the patient when planning and providing care.

+ Responds to and refers incoming telephone calls in a timely manner.

+ Participates in community diabetes and nutritional education projects, programs and screenings.

+ Remains knowledgeable in disease processes and treatment modalities as they relate to diabetes.

+ Remains knowledgeable in various medical conditions, dietary deficiencies, and nutrition and dietary principles as they relate to the nutritional care of patients for health maintenance.

+ Remains knowledgeable in various ADA standards/guidelines and various billing and insurance requirements.

+ Participates in the development and maintenance of Diabetes Education Center’s procedure manuals and documentation forms.

+ Maintains timely flow of patients through the department and education program(s).

+ Represents department and serves on various committees, teams, and boards as assigned or on a volunteer basis.

+ Cooperates as a member of the department and overall hospital team.

+ Treats each contact (patient, family member, visitor, physician, staff member, etc.) as the most important person of the moment by friendly acknowledgement, responsiveness, and courtesy.

+ Maintains regular and reliable attendance.

+ Performs related work per orientation and position competency checklists and skills validation.

+ Respects diversity and individualizes care to meet the unique needs of the patient.

+ Establishes partnerships with patients, families, support systems, and other providers, utilizing in-person and electronic communications, to reach a shared goal of delivering health care.

+ Promotes healing and health in a way that builds a relationship with the patient.

+ Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the patient and/or the situation.

+ Analyzes the assessment data to determine the nutrition related health issues.

+ Identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the patient or the situation.

+ Develops a plan that prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain expected outcomes

+ Implements the identified plan.

+ Employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment.

+ Evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes.

+ Maintains and improves the healthcare practice environment conducive to the provision of quality health care.

+ Attains knowledge and competence that reflects current dietetics practice.

+ Maintains professional competence.

+ Continually reassesses competencies and identifies needs for additional knowledge, skills, personal growth, and integrative learning experiences

+ Integrates evidence and research findings into practice.

+ Contributes to quality dietetics practice.

+ Demonstrates leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.

+ Practices in an environmentally safe and healthy manner.

+ Participates in quality improvement and patient safety and customer service activities, including outcome monitoring.

+ Maintains a safe and clean environment.

+ Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience

+ Required Qualifications (Including any licensure, certification, education):

+ Registered and Licensed as dietitian in State of Iowa.

+ Ability to demonstrate clinical competence and maintain current knowledge in caring for adolescent through geriatric patients.

+ Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

+ Skill in effective oral and written communication in English.

+ Knowledge of basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

+ Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

+ Active Listening skills, giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

+ BLS training or within 90 days of hire and must maintain throughout employment.

+ Anyone hired after 01.01.2020 will require a CDCES certification. Those hired before 01.01.2020 will be required to get the CDCES certification upon renewal.

+ Mandatory Reporter training within 90 days of hire and must maintain throughout employment.

+ Organizational Requirements:

+ Maintain stroke education per regulatory requirements.

+ Preferred Qualifications:

+ Professional certification as Certified Diabetes Educator.

+ Required Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

+ Knowledge of nutrition and dietary principles to direct high quality nutritional care.

+ Knowledge of instructional skills and educational techniques to influence and guide proper care of diabetes patients for optimal health.

+ Ability to read, write, speak and understand the English language; to demonstrate basic computer skills; to read and understand chart documentation; and, to keep current with diabetes research and treatment modalities, changes in diabetes self-management, dietary deficiencies, and changes in nutrition and dietary principles.

+ Ability to communicate effectively in a professional and tactful manner with physicians, staff, patients and/or their representatives.

+ Ability to publicly present information to physicians, members of the care team, and others as appropriate.

+ Ability to be self-directed, flexible, and able to adapt to change.

+ Ability to communicate effectively, in English, with diverse population groups.

+ Ability to pursue and foster a sense of team and partnership across all disciplines.

+ Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

+ One year experience in educating persons with diabetes and nutritional needs.