Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.             To assist specialist practitioner with care and education of patients with Diabetes, their families or carers.  Working regularly without direct supervision in various care settings including outpatient department, in-patient areas, community and local health centres and in the patient’s home.

2.             To assist patients, families and carers learning how to self-check blood glucose levels with a locally approved blood glucose meter including information on the timing and frequency of testing and the targets for the individual recommended by specialist practitioner.

3.             To educate patients, families and carers about hypoglycaemia (hypo) where risk is identified by specialist practitioner. Education would include recognition, treatments and prevention of hypo and when patients, families and carers should seek further help.

4.             To educate patients, families and carers how to self-inject subcutaneous diabetes therapies as recommended and prescribed by specialist practitioner. Education would include how to use the prescribed device, where and when to inject and when patients, families and carers should seek further help.

5.             To educate patients, families and carers with regard to current DVLA regulation with insulin.

6.             To educate patients, families and carers about taking a suitable diet recommended for people with diabetes.

7.          To visit diabetes wards to actively find people with diabetes to assess need for basic education in diabetes and liaise with ward nurses directly.

8.          Assist where required to prepare patients for medical clinic appointments in the main clinical area.

9.          To accurately record and report observations e.g. pulse, respiration, blood pressure and temperature with the aid of specialist equipment as appropriate to the needs of the work place and record in the patients record.

10.          To accurately measure blood glucose with the aid of specialist equipment, recording and reporting the results.

11.          To ensure that appropriate moving and handling techniques and equipment are used when manual handling.

12.          To accurately test urine samples, recording the results and also ensuring that the results are reported in the patient’s records.

13.          To feedback information gathered from patient interaction, plus care given, to relevant specialist practitioner, entering relevant information into the care records as necessary. 

14.          To escort patients to other departments within the hospital as requested by the nurse in charge.

15.          To chaperone patients requiring clinical examinations as and when required.

16.          To ensure all areas are kept clean, tidy and appropriately stocked, including storage areas and medical equipment.

17.          To comply with Health and Safety Regulations and to report accidents/untoward incidents/hazards and unsafe equipment to the nurse in charge of the ward immediately, utilising the incident reporting system.

18.          To attend mandatory training and such courses/lectures/in-service training, as indicated by the needs of the service and own personal development as identified at appraisal and within personal development plan.

19.          The post-holder will be required to supervise less experienced staff as instructed by a registered nurse.*

20.          To be familiar with, and comply with, all appropriate Trust policies and procedures.

21.          To undertake any other duties as may be required to meet with the needs of the service within the limitations of the grade for the post.

22.          At all times to maintain a professional image e.g. applies with the Trusts Uniform Policy.