Job responsibilities
The role of the diabetes nurse is to promote the health and wellbeing of people with diabetes enabling them to achieve optimum Glycaemic, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and other key parameters. The nurse role is key to encouraging compliance with medication through informed self-management.
Essential Requirements
Registered Nurse
Diabetes qualification
Experience of running diabetes clinics in community or primary care setting
Good diabetes knowledge with ability to work autonomously in the treatment and management of complex patients, using decision-making skills that reflect a patient focus.
The post holder will work as a member of wider nursing team comprising of practice nurses and health care assistants alongside secondary care colleagues and other agencies managing patients with diabetes
Will liaise on regular basis with GPs, practice nurses & HCAs to assist in the development of the diabetes service.
Will contribute to the co-ordination of care between primary and secondary care diabetes services to ensure high quality of patient care and the continuity of services
Be responsible for maintaining a professional profile at all times.
Act in accordance with local policies and procedures
Conform to the regulations laid down by the Data Protection Act and also respect confidentiality of all staff and patient information.
Ensure the health and safety of staff, patients and visitors, recording and reporting actual or potential problems promptly
Identify actual or potential clinical risks and take appropriate action, using when required the appropriate reporting structures
Demonstrate sound IT skills and be prepared to undergo training to use electronic patient record system
To undertake an annual appraisal to identify organisational and professional objectives and developmental needs.
Clinical
Maintain effective communication with patients, carers and professionals to ensure seamless service delivery, and to act as a first line contact resource, using specialised knowledge underpinned with experience and theoretical knowledge for diabetes related issues.
Be able to impart complex information, which requires developed communication and reassurance skills in order to empower people with diabetes to self-care, such as starting people on insulin therapy.
To participate in formulating individualised patient treatment care programmes in conjunction with the patient, multidisciplinary team and initiating changes in management of care.
To be responsible for assessing patients diabetes needs, identifying physical, psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs in relation to their condition and proposed treatment.
Provide a pathway of diabetes nursing care for the patient, referring to secondary care, multidisciplinary teams and voluntary services as required.
To act as a clinical expert in advising patients who present with diabetes related problems and provide clinical advice and support to community based staff and junior members of the team.
To request and interpret diagnostic investigations and inform patients and GPs of results.
To act as the patients advocate when relevant and educate on all the treatment options to enable a patient to make an informed choice.
To ensure patients, carers and health care professionals are given verbal and written information regarding planned care.
To identify vulnerable groups and provide support, care and education to enable them to be self-caring in the management of their condition.
Manage a complex caseload, autonomously in a primary care setting.
Under agreed guidelines, protocols and using non-medical prescribing undertake the initiation and stabilisation of insulin and oral hypoglycaemics agents.
Maintain adequate patient records and ensure all relevant information is documented.
