Bank Diabetes Specialist Nurse

1. To provide an expert diabetes nursing service, giving support, advice and information about diabetes to patients and their significant others in the diabetes centre, hospital or home plus community and primary care settings. 2. Act as an expert resource, providing clinical advice and support to others involved in providing care for people with diabetes, in both primary, secondary care and community settings. 3. Work as an independent practitioner and demonstrate specialist skills and knowledge through expert nursing practice. 4. Practice advanced clinical skills and maintain a high professional standard of care and expertise, acting as a role model for other health care professionals 5. In conjunction with Diabetes Service Lead and Consultant Clinical Lead assess referrals to the diabetes centre, prioritise and decide when patients need to be seen and by whom (i.e. Consultants and Nurses) and refer patients to other services (Podiatry, Dietetics etc). 6. Assess, advise and take appropriate action for walk-in patients, emergency and routine phone calls from GPs, practice nurses, district nurses, hospital based staff and patients. 7. Be responsible and accountable for managing a varied case load of patients, including patients with multiple medical conditions and complex needs, prioritising the workload as appropriate. 8. Organise and undertake comprehensive assessments and interpret clinical data including blood biochemistry for the treatment for people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Develop, implement and evaluate specialist programmes of care which meet the varying and complex needs of the individual patient. Facilitate individual patient care treatment plans. 9. Under agreed guidelines and protocols (NICE and local South east London),undertake the initiation and stabilisation of insulin and oral hypoglycaemic therapies. 10. Provide treatment in emergency situations, including the administration of glucogen for severe hypoglycaemia. If ineffective to organise emergency treatment. 11. Use counselling and motivational interviewing skills to enable, motivate and empower people with diabetes to make sustainable lifestyle changes. To assist patients and their carers to achieve individualised goals to maintain their physical and psychological well being.