Diabetes Care Specialist and Education

Job Description

HealthPartners is hiring for a Diabetes Care Specialist and Education position.

POSITION SUMMARY STATEMENT:

All team members support the mission, vision, and values of HealthPartners and follow all organizational policies and procedures.

The Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (DCES) is a Registered Nurse or Registered Dietitian with advanced knowledge in diabetes care, including nutrition interventions. The DCES provides direct care, education, and support across the lifespan, helping individuals with diabetes reach personalized goals related to nutrition, behavior, and treatment.

Using evidence-based strategies and collaborative care planning, the DCES promotes self-management, reduces risks, and improves health outcomes. As a key member of the care team, the DCES demonstrates professionalism, flexibility, and strong interpersonal skills, while maintaining patient confidentiality and rights. The DCES works closely with managing clinicians to deliver integrated, person-centered care and serves as a resource for the broader care team.

The DCES follows a structured approach to care-assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating-in alignment with the RN scope of practice or the Scope and Standards of Practice for Credentialed Dietetic Professionals, as well as HealthPartners protocols. Diabetes education programs in ambulatory settings must also meet standards set by our accrediting organization.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Experience or Equivalent Combination:

• Bachelor''s degree in Nursing or Nutrition and/or Dietetics with 2 years of prior experience in diabetes care and education, or
• Associate's degree in nursing with 4 years of prior experience in diabetes care and education.

Licensure/ Registration/ Certification:

• Maintain a current Minnesota registered nurses' licensure or

• Dietitians require Dietetic registration (RDN) and current Licensure in the state of Minnesota (LD)

• Submission of application to the State of WI Department of Safety and Professional Services for registered nurse and/or dietitian licensure required upon hire and licensure maintained.

• Current national certification as a Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist (CDCES) or ability to become certified within 24 months of hire.

• Current BLS certification for health professionals through the American Heart Association or Red Cross required and maintained. On-line BLS certification is not acceptable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Effective Communication: Strong verbal and written skills; able to uphold clinical standards and professional ethics per the Nurse Practice Act or Scope and Standards for Credentialed Dietetic Professionals.
• Clinical Judgment: Demonstrates critical thinking, sound decision-making, and the ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Patient-Centered Service: Provides compassionate, professional care with tact and diplomacy in interactions with patients, families, and clinic staff.
• Education & Engagement: Assesses patient education needs and communicates relevant information clearly to patients, families, and care teams.
• Organization & Resilience: Skilled in planning, prioritizing, and completing tasks efficiently while remaining calm and focused under pressure.
• Technology Proficiency: Proficient in electronic medical records and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel); strong keyboarding skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Experience or Equivalent Combination:

• 4 years of prior experience in diabetes care and education is preferred.

Licensure/ Registration/ Certification:

• Professional association membership in American Diabetes Association (ADA) and/or Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiar with Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES), The ADCES7 Self Care Behaviors, and the ADA Standards of Care.

Essential Duties:

• Some listed duties overlap and occur at the same time as other duties; therefore, percentage totals may be over 100%

% Of Time (minimum 5% increments)

1.

Assessment

• Effectively assesses care needs of patients and caregivers, prioritizes patient needs utilizing person-centered care; conducts a comprehensive assessment including nutrition status and Social Determinants of Health; identifies patient outcomes and develops a patient care plan; implements and continuously evaluates the care plan; ensures patients are discharged with resolved educational needs and a plan for follow-up to ensure continuity of care.
• Collects and prioritizes data in a systematic and ongoing process that involves the patient, care giver, other health care providers, and environment as appropriate.
• Analyzes and interprets assessment data including laboratory results and glucose metrics to determine appropriate treatment plan in alignment with approved protocol.
• Collaborates and communicates with the diabetes team and managing clinicians.
• Makes recommendations to managing clinicians regarding changes in therapy according to evidenced based practices and protocols.

20-50%2.

Planning

• Develops plan of care using an outcomes-based approach ensuring quality care.

• Develops an individualized care plan with specific goals for patients with diabetes that address the 7 self-care behaviors for diabetes self-management.

• Establishes a plan that provides for continuity of care.

• Develops an individualized education plan for patients and care givers based on identified learning needs.

• Uses evidence-based research data blended with caring and compassion, to develop the plan of care and interventions.

• Tailors the self-management educational process to everyone based on learning barriers and specific needs (i.e., use of interpreter or simplified educational materials).

• Provides in-depth and evidenced-based information on aspects of diabetes, including pathophysiology, medications, sick day management, glucagon, use of alcohol, food plans, hypoglycemia, pattern control, diabetes technology training, complications, and preventive follow-up care.

• Coordinates, delivers, and delegates care that is safe, ethical, and culturally competent based on patient assessment/standards of care in a timely manner.

• Involves the patient, caregiver, and health care team members in the evaluation process when appropriate.

• Utilizes evidence-based interventions and treatments specific to the diagnoses as appropriate.

• Provides comprehensive, individualized healthcare teaching, using the teach back method, to patients and caregivers.

• Actively participates in creating and implementing improvements at the point of care to achieve clinical quality, patient experience, engagement, efficiency, and effective outcomes.

• Evaluates the patient's progress toward the identified outcomes, recognizing that outcome attainment may vary by care setting. Collaborate with members of the care team to adjust the care plan when outcomes are not as expected or require longer-term follow-up.

• Evaluates and documents the patient's/care givers' understanding of and response to the plan of care

• Documents patient care and education accurately, timely, and completely in the electronic health record (EHR).

• Reassesses, revises, and documents the plan of care based on the patient's response to treatment and interventions, recognizing that response timelines may vary across care settings. Continuously evaluates and updates the plan in collaboration with the care team to ensure alignment with the patient's evolving needs and goals.

• Effectively coordinates and communicates with the patient, caregivers, clinicians, interpreters and interdisciplinary team to identify and mobilize appropriate resources (e.g., social services, DME, pharmacy, MTM, behavioral health, technology support) that support continuity of care. Ensures timely collaboration to align care with the patient's evolving needs across settings.

• Serves as a resource to the interdisciplinary team in the management of diabetes and its complications. Actively participates in committee work as needed and contributes to the development of educational resources that support staff competencies, enhance patient care, and promote quality diabetes management.

• Communicate knowledge and expertise to other health professionals via oral or written presentations.

• Engages in community outreach, as appropriate, to connect patients with local programs and services, and to foster community partnerships that advance the mission of the organization and promote equitable, high-quality diabetes care.

• Practices within the scope of the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, scope of practice and/or The Scope and Standards of Practice for Credentialed Dietetic professionals and Health Partners and employer specific policy.

• Attains and applies competency (knowledge, skills, behaviors, and judgement) that reflects current evidenced-based diabetes care/nutrition and practice.

• Participates in educational and professional development activities and maintains required competencies.

• Maintains professional licensure and fulfills discipline-specific continuing education requirements. Once certification through the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) is achieved, ensures ongoing maintenance and recertification every five years.

• Demonstrates professional and personal development related to empathy, accountability, autonomy, creativity, critical thinking, joy and pride, service and caring, learning, and stewardship.

• Engages in self-evaluation of practice on a regular basis, identifying strengths and goals for professional development.

• Participates and obtains formal and informal feedback regarding one's own practice from patients, peers, professional colleagues, and leaders.

• Provides immediate and ongoing positive and constructive feedback to other team members to foster a team environment of continuous improvement.

• Contributes to a supportive and healthy work environment.

• Actively participates in team meetings, training, practice development, organizational and unit-based communication.

• Utilizes quality improvement data, evidence-based practice, and research to guide decisions and to improve practice and patient outcomes

20-50%3.Implementation20-50%4.Documentation20%5.

Collaboration

ongoing6.Professional Practice/Education50-100%8.

Teamwork:

• Demonstrates a positive, respectful attitude and fosters a supportive, inclusive environment that promotes psychological safety, teamwork, and a healthy workplace culture.
• Actively contributes to team cohesion and shared goals through open communication, mutual accountability, and solution-focused collaboration.
• Effectively shares job knowledge and participates in orientation and training of new employees.
• Maintains a helpful and positive attitude and willingness to take on new and different responsibilities as assigned by leader.

ongoing9 .Performs other tasks as required or assignedvaries

• Job description rankings/percentages are intended to reflect normal averages over an extended period of time, and are subject to daily variances. Quality and efficiency standards should at no time be compromised to meet the average expectations expressed above. Job descriptions are subject to change to accommodate organization or department needs.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

Values

All colleagues are expected to live our values:

Excellence: We strive for the best results and always look for ways to improve.

Compassion: We care and show empathy and respect for each person.

Partnership: We are strongest when we work together and with those we serve.

Integrity: We are open and honest, and we keep our commitments.

Additional Expectations:

• Complies with safety instructions, observe safe work practices, provides input on safety issues, and promotes a safe work environment.

• Maintains regular and timely attendance

• Protects confidentiality

• Demonstrates participation in and support of the organization''s Corporate Integrity Program by participating in compliance-related education and training and complying with the organization''s policies and procedures.

• Timely completion of all mandatory education and organizational requirements (i.e., licensure/certification, Employee Health and Wellness requirements, annual training, etc.)

• Adheres to the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses and/or The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Code of Ethics.

POPULATION SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

X Yes

No

Does this employee have direct patient contact?

Departments will need to determine the appropriate competencies in their areas for their specific patient populations documented in the essential duties section.

• Identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the patient or situation specific to the needs of the population served.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, and team members.
• Integrates practices that supports patient safety, acknowledges variations in populations served.
• Anticipates the needs of the population served as well as the unique characteristics of the communities served.
• Anticipates the needs of the population in providing culturally responsive care and develops an individualized plan for patients and families.

Critical Job Demands

Section 1: Place an "X' next to ONE of the terms that best describes the frequency for each of the Critical Demands.

Critical Demands

N/A

0%

Rare

1-5%

(Up to

a 1/2 hour)

Occa

6-33%

(1/2 hour

to

3 hours)

Freq

34-66%

(3 to

5½ hours)

Cont

67-100%

(5½ to

8 hours)

Standing - Remaining on one''s feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about.

x

Walking - Moving about on foot.

x

Sitting - Remaining in a seated position.

x

Squatting - Assuming or maintaining a crouching position with the knees bent.

x

Reaching - Stretching out or extending to touch or grasp.

x

Lifting - Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling).

x

Carrying - Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder.

x

Pushing/Pulling - Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away/towards from the force.

x

Handling/Fingering - (includes typing, computer work, gripping, grasping, and pinching)

x

Section 2: Place an "X" next to ONE of the terms that best describes the Strength Rating for this job classification which is expressed by one of five terms: Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, and Very Heavy.

Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.

X Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Heavy Work - Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Medium Work.

Very Heavy Work - Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Heavy Work.

Note: During any patient handling task, if any caregiver is required to lift more than 35 lbs. of a patient's weight, assistive transfer devices should be used for the transfer.

At HealthPartners we believe in the power of good - good deeds and good people working together. As part of our team, you'll find an inclusive environment that encourages new ways of thinking, celebrates differences, and recognizes hard work.

We're a nonprofit, integrated health care organization, providing health insurance in six states and high-quality care at more than 90 locations, including hospitals and clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We bring together research and education through HealthPartners Institute, training medical professionals across the region and conducting innovative research that improve lives around the world.

At HealthPartners, everyone is welcome, included and valued. We're working together to increase diversity and inclusion in our workplace, advance health equity in care and coverage, and partner with the community as advocates for change.

Benefits Designed to Support Your Total Health

As a HealthPartners colleague, we're committed to nurturing your diverse talents, valuing your dedication, and supporting your work-life balance. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits to support every aspect of your life, including health, time off, retirement planning, and continuous learning opportunities. Our goal is to help you thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially, so you can continue delivering exceptional care.

Join us in our mission to improve the health and well-being of our patients, members, and communities.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identify, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.