Registered Nurse - Diabetes Educator

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Retirement Benefits

Health Insurance

Job summary

The Diabetes Educator RN at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides evidence-based diabetes education to staff and patients across the medical facility, evaluating current practice and formulating outcomes for groups and organizational processes.

They collaborate with Clinical Nurse Educators and interprofessional teams to coordinate education initiatives, assess learning needs, and support quality improvement through evidence-based practice.

Qualifications

• RN licensed in the United States (or eligible) and able to practice
• Graduate with an approved nursing program (ADN/BSN) and license, or bridge option with state licensure
• Experience coordinating diabetes education across patients and staff is preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide diabetes education to patients and staff
• Assess diabetes education needs and outcomes
• Coordinate with interprofessional teams on education initiatives
• Support quality improvement and evidence-based practice in diabetes care
• Maintain licensure and pursue CDCES certification as needed

Skills

Diabetes education

RN licensure

Interprofessional collaboration

Education

Nursing degree (ADN/BSN)

CDCES preferred

Job description

Summary

The Diabetes Educator is a Registered Nurse (RN) responsible for providing competent - evidence-based diabetes education to staff and patients throughout the medical facility. The Diabetes Educator systematically evaluates current practice - formulate appropriate diabetic outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within area of expertise.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13100584
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of examination.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising staff and patient diabetes education
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates diabetes educational needs to facilitate learner development and skill training
• Utilizes innovative teaching strategies - assessment skills - and evaluation of outcomes
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of diabetes education focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the healthcare continuum
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the department level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs
• Collaborates with other Clinical Nurse Educators and interprofessional healthcare teams in the ongoing clinical education activities including in-services - training - competency assessment - and evaluations of both current and new staff nursing skills
• Acts as a consultant in patient diabetes care principles and performance measures
• Reviews current nursing literature for new diabetic trends and changes based on evidence‑based research with the ability to propose practice and documentation revisions based on evaluation of outcomes
• Utilizes best practices and benchmarking to establish realistic goals for patient diabetes care initiatives
• Collaborates with leadership and unit managers to identify diabetics educational training needs for staff
• Takes appropriate action to attain and/or maintain certified care and education specialist (CDCES) certification
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long‑term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 0800 - 1630 Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Preferred Experience: Currently holds or working towards the required Certification in Diabetes Education The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well‑being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well‑being.