Job Description
Job Title ; Clinical Nurse Specialist - Diabetes
Department ;Endocrinology Department
Reports to ;Assistant Director of Nursing - Endocrinology Services
Date ; 2026
Overall Purpose of Job
To provide exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the centre of all we do. The Diabetic Clinical Nurse Specialist works within a team which includes Endocrinology Department Lead consultant, Diabetes ANP [Advanced Nurse Practitioner], Diabetes CNS/ Liaision Nurse and under the direction of the ADON to ensure that objectives, outcomes and goals are achieved. The Diabetes CNS takes part to ensure that evidence based standards of care for diabetes patients are met as required by the Joint Commission International. The Diabetes CNS will be a key stake holder and driver in the development, planning, organising, assesment, patient flow and performance improvment of the Diabetic service. They will take on other responsibilities as determined by the Assistant Director of Nursing and/or the Diabetes team.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
The management of patients with Diabetic conditions demands a broad range of professional skills and
knowledge, as well as skills in communication, leadership, teaching, education, research and counselling.
To undertake the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care required for Diabetic patients.
Manage patients with Type 1, Type 2 and complex diabetes presentations.
Support insulin initiation, titration, and ongoing management in collaboration with consultant endocrinologists and physicians.
Assist patients using diabetes technologies including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems and insulin pump therapy.
Deliver individual and group education programs for patients and families.
Form part of the Out Patient Diabetic Nurse Clinic and independently review patients in conjunction with their endocrinologists.
- Support patients with self management plans through telephone, clinic and inpatient contacts.
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Work closely with the Diabetes ANP [Advanced Nurse Practitioner] and Diabetic CNS, to create management plans for individual patients and provide feedback of opportunities for service development
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Maintain high standard of knowledge for commonly prescribed diabetes medications to educate patient and staff on correct use.
- Develop common pathways and protocols for management of diabetes as agreed with the Diabetes ANP, Diabetic Nursing Team and Endocrine consultants and support the implementation accross the Beacon Hospital to enhance patient care.
- Liase with community and primary care services to ensure Beacon diabetes patients have equitable and seamless access to primary and secondary care resources.
Ensuring care is provided in accordance with required clinical and quality standards and protocols.
To act as and apply specialist knowledge and experience to identify and manage patients with diabetes.
To work closely with Multi Disciplinary members to meet the needs of the patient and their families.
To participate in team discussions regarding treatment needs as appropriate.
To flexibly manage responsibility for own clinical caseload and to seek support from clinical colleagues in the management of complex cases and where necessary seek support from medical colleagues.
To promote seamless service of care through liaison with all relevant health care professionals including facilitating timely and safe transition of patients from outpatients, admission assessment to discharge from the hospital.
Demonstrate vision, innovation and flexibility in nursing practice and service development.
To demonstrate a high level of clinical decision making and an ability to monitor and improve standards of care.
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Identify areas for professional development and agree with the Assistant Director of Nursing courses, conferences and personal study to achieve these.
To work within his/her own scope of professional practice.
To assess, plan, deliver and evaluate outcomes and adjust nursing care practice in collaboration with the Diabetes team to ensure optimum coordination of and delivery of care.
Perform advanced nursing skills, working within the guidelines of the Code of Professional Conduct and protocols written and agreed with the multi-disciplinary teams.
Be a preceptor/mentor/supervisor to students/newly appointed staff as required.
Identify the need for and undertake a lead role in research and clinical audit in order to improve effectiveness of patient care
Disseminate research and audit findings as appropriate
At all times display exemplary standards of behavior and ensure own work practices and attitudes provide an example of professionalism for all staff
Facilitate early discharge from the ward area, availing of the patient lounge, supporting clinical teams in the effective handover and transfer of care
Actively and positively participates in the ongoing preparations to ensure readiness for JCI and the sustainability of same in alignment with Beacon Hospital Strategic Plan.
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Take on other responsibilities as determined by the Assistant Director of Nursing
Personal & Professional Responsibilities
Attend in a timely manner all mandatory education sessions.
Ability to work independently and follow self-directed study to maintain independent learning in the field of Diabetes.
Maintain a professional portfolio.
Ensure their professional and personal persona positively reflects the profession of nursing and Beacon Hospital.
Identify potential and beneficial topics for nursing research.
Utilise all practical opportunities to educate the patient and their families.
Be a preceptor and or supervisor to students & newly appointed staff.
Educational Responsibilities
Act as a resource for healthcare professionals.
Take a key educative role to increase the knowledge base of the MDT members in their learning
and knowledge.
Provide clinical support for medical and nursing staff within the specialty.
Participate in any teaching initiatives within the area of Diabetes.
Provide teaching and education to patients and relatives.
To take an active role in health education and educating patients about their lifestyle.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
Act as a role model for the nursing team, setting standards and expectations of quality of patient care.
Clinical assessment of the patients with Diabetes.
Where appropriate, make clinical decisions with regard to individual patients with diabetes.
Use clinical time to develop and support the ward staff.
Promote a seamless service of care through liaison with all relevant health care professionals, setting up appropriate systems of communication.
Develop own clinical expertise, keeping up to date of development in practice.
To demonstrate critical thinking and reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
To evaluate the results of interventions, revising plans of care when necessary and to consult/refer when needed.
Ensure that families and carers are involved in the planning and provision of care where this is appropriate.
Practice and Service Development
Develop protocols for role development and skill enhancement as agreed with the Diabetic Nursing Team and Endocrine consultants.
Devise systems for monitoring standards which are able to demonstrate continual improvements in the quality of patient care.
To establish a system of clinical audit/quality improvement plans (QIP) and review so that the effectiveness of the service is monitored and patient outcomes are maximized.
To establish, implement and evaluate audit programs for the service.
General Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Confidentiality
The Diabetes CNS will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the right of patients to confidentiality.
Policies & Procedures
The Diabetes CNS is required to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all policy and procedural documents relevant to the position.
Hygiene Standards
The highest standard of hygiene must be maintained in the Hospital at all times and all staff members are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Hospitals requirements and standards with regard to hygiene. It is the responsibility of all staff to have a fundamental understanding of their individual responsibility in maintaining departmental & site hygiene standards.
Health and Safety
Ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply not only with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 but also within the spirit of the Hospital's mission, vision and values, and they are known and followed by staff. The Diabetes CNS is required to familiarise themselves with the requirements of employees under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and to promote a work environment that is compliant with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Each staff member is individually responsible for ensuring that the Hospital remains a safe place to work.
Information Technology
Ensure the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for administrative support in a manner, which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
An Board Altrainais Registered General Nurse in Good standing.
Formal recognised post registration education relevant to the area of specialist practice at level 9- desirable, such as GradDip Diabetes Nursing or a committment to undertake within an agreed framework.
Experience
Minimum Five years post registration experience in an acute medical setting
Minimum of 2 years' experience in diabetes nursing- desirable
Experience with insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring systems - desirable
Candidiates must possess teaching skills, leadership quailities , critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Must demonstrate multi-tasking ability.
Must speak read and write grammatically correct English.
Excellent time managment.
Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge
Must have the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Must be motivated and innovative.
Must have the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
Must have excellent communication skills.
Demonstrate ability to plan effectively, to organise and have an understanding of change managment.
Be flexiable.
Demonstrate knowledge of recent and relevant experience in the specialised area.
Take part in the auditing and data collection in the area and take part in any national strategies implimented.
Must be professional at all times and have the ability to liase and problem solve throughout the whole service.
Personal Competencies
All posts in Beacon Hospital require a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore, the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager or hospital management.
This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility and deliverables at the time of its writing. As the Hospital and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the Hospital.
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