b'| EDUCATION GUIDEBecoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education SpecialistVarious health care professionals can qualify for this positionBy Krystina Ostermeyer RN, BSN, CDEW hen I was 18 years old and start- yes, I gave insulin and educated patientsCare and Education Specialists (ADCES). ing out in college, I knew thaton checking their glucose levels and livingAlong with this change, the title of Certified I would become a nurse. If youa healthy lifestyle, but I had been exposedDiabetes Educator (CDE), which was in had asked me my long-term goal, it was lit- to type 1 diabetes nearly my entire life. Myplace for over 30 years, changed to Certified tle more than to help people. I did not knowgodfather has had type 1 diabetes since heDiabetes Care and Education Specialist much more about nursingmy only expe- was a child. I had grown up watching him(CDCES).rience with nurses were those who took mymanage his diabetes, constantly check- Why the change? According to the blood pressure at my doctors office and theing his blood glucose levels, giving him- ADCES, years of research indicated that nurses at our local hospital, where I had doneself injections, then finally, using an insulinpatients often feared or did not enjoy going a short internship. pump. to see a CDE because of the educator com-Fast forward about 10 years. I was burnedShortly after my interview, I landed theponent of the name. In addition, the new out, working on a fast-paced telemetryjoband I have been learning ever since. title more clearly defines the job that the unit. I had already worked several years onCDCES does on a daily basis.night shift. We were understaffed and over- CDE VERSUS CDCES A January press release from the ADCES worked. I knew that I still wanted to be aYou may see that the letters after my namestates, The evidence-based rebranding pro-nursebut in a different capacity. say RN, BSN, CDCES.As of January 22,cess incorporated extensive qualitative and A position for a diabetes educator opened2020, the American Association of Diabetesquantitative research, including interviews and I was intrigued. I knew a little bit moreEducators rebranded themselves and nowwith 2,200 diabetes care and education spe-ISTOCKabout diabetes than some of my peers call themselves the Association of Diabetescialists, people with diabetes, payers, provid-www.elitecme.com |2020| EDUCATION GUIDE 11'