RN Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

Department Overview

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. At OHSU hospitals care is provided at the bedside. 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.

Function/Duties of Position

The Inpatient Registered Nurse Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (RN DCES) is an integral member of the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center's (HSDHC) interdisciplinary care team. The RN CDCES practices in accordance with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) guidance, and the ADCES7 Self-Care Behavior Framework. Using advanced clinical judgment, the RN DCES assesses hospitalized adult patients’ clinical, educational, and psychosocial needs and provides individualized diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) to promote safe glycemic management, improve health outcomes, and prepare patients and families for a safe transition from hospital to ambulatory care.

The RN Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (DCES) serves as an inpatient clinical consultant and resource for adult glycemic management and diabetes care. Working in collaboration with nursing leaders, Nursing Practice Specialists, and Nursing Professional Development Practitioners, the RN DCES provides expert guidance on evidence-based diabetes care, glycemic management best practices, and regulatory and professional standards. The RN DCES contributes specialized clinical knowledge to practice, quality, education, training, and competency initiatives and serves as a resource for the evaluation of glycemic-related outcomes, adverse events, policies, procedures, and educational materials. The RN DCES does not hold operational accountability for these functions but collaborates with accountable leaders to support continuous improvement in inpatient diabetes care and patient outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years of clinical nursing experience in the last 5 years.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience providing Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) in an inpatient or ambulatory setting, including care coordination and collaboration with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to support individualized treatment planning, continuity of care, and safe transitions from hospital to home.
• 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.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) certification or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire.
• Experience educating and supporting patients using diabetes technologies, including insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems.
• Experience participating in diabetes-related quality improvement, program development, clinical outcomes monitoring, or activities supporting ADA-recognized DSMES program requirements.
• Demonstrated nursing leadership experience through formal or informal roles, such as serving as a charge nurse, preceptor, mentor, clinical resource, committee or council member, quality improvement participant, or contributor to workflow, education, policy, or practice improvement initiatives.

Additional Details

Length of Orientation – Experienced Nurse

• External candidates: OHSU & Nursing New Employee Orientation (NEO) for about a week.
• Either Transition to Practice (TTP) Program Specialty Fellowship/Fellowship Learning Pathway or Orientation experience for up to 8 weeks depending on the care area. An employment service agreement may apply.

This position also comes with great benefits! Some highlights include

• Comprehensive health care plans. Covered at 100% of the cost for full-time employees and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from
• Vacation - 192 to 288 hours per year depending on length of service, prorated for part-time
• Holidays - up to 64 holiday hours per calendar year (employees accrue .0308 holiday hours for each hour paid – included in vacation accruals)
• Sick Leave - 96 hours per year, prorated for part-time
• Substantial public transportation discounts (Tri-met and C-Tran)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Innovative Employee Assistance Program (EAP) including extensive wellness resources

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu