RN Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

US-OR-Portland

Requisition ID: 2026-40668
Position Category: Nursing-RN
Job Type: ONA union represented
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Posting Department: Medicine: Diabetes Education
Posting Salary Range: $55.24 - $92.02 per hour with offer based on experience, education and internal equity
Posting FTE: 1.00
Posting Schedule: Monday - Friday, with occasional Saturday
Posting Hours: 8:30AM - 5:00PM variable
HR Mission: Healthcare
Drug Testable: Yes

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. 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 RN Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (DCES) is an integral member of the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center's (HSDHC) interdisciplinary care team, providing comprehensive, evidence-based Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support/Training (DSMES/T) to individuals living with diabetes and their families/caregivers. Using advanced clinical judgment, the RN DCES assesses patients' clinical, educational, and psychosocial needs to develop individualized education plans that promote safe self-management, improve health outcomes, and support successful transitions of care. The RN practices in accordance with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) guidance, and the ADCES7 Self-Care Behavior framework.

The RN DCES provides individualized and group DSMES/T through scheduled in-person and telehealth visits, delivering education on diabetes self-management, medication administration, healthy coping, nutrition, physical activity, glucose monitoring, risk reduction, problem solving, and diabetes technologies, including insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. Responsibilities include assessing patient readiness to learn; initiating and supporting diabetes technologies; triaging urgent patient concerns; coordinating interdisciplinary care; placing durable medical equipment (DME) orders; facilitating structured DSMES classes; providing just-in-time education during provider visits; and supporting medication and technology initiation according to organizational policies, protocols, and delegated practice agreements.

The RN DCES serves as a clinical resource for patients, families, healthcare professionals, and the interdisciplinary care team, promoting evidence-based diabetes care across the continuum. The RN collaborates closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, dietitians, behavioral health specialists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated, patient-centered care.

The RN DCES also contributes to quality improvement, program development, and organizational initiatives that advance evidence-based diabetes care and support the ADA-recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program. Responsibilities include collecting and documenting clinical outcomes; participating in performance improvement initiatives; supporting regulatory, accreditation, and quality reporting requirements; contributing to the development and revision of clinical workflows, educational resources, and policies; and promoting continuous improvement in patient safety, clinical outcomes, and the patient experience.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years of clinical nursing experience in the last 5 years.
• Minimum of one (1) year of ambulatory care experience providing Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support/Training (DSMES/T) using the ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors framework.
• 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.
• Current, unencumbered Washington State Registered Nurse license or ability to obtain within three months of hire.
• 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