 July 26, 2010, MORRIS, IL – Two nurses from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers have achieved certification from the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators. That makes a total of three certified diabetes educators available at Morris Hospital to assist patients with managing the chronic disease that affects nearly 8 percent of the population.
The nurses are Jennifer Frye of Seneca and Kathy Ulivi of Coal City, who achieved the certification after providing 1,000 hours of diabetic patient care, completing 15 hours in diabetes continuing education, and passing a comprehensive exam. Reggie Fleck, a registered dietitian at the hospital, is also a certified diabetes educator.
In their role as nurse educators, Frye and Ulivi provide education to patients who are diagnosed with diabetes during their hospital stay. They also provide outpatient diabetes counseling and serve as facilitators of the hospital's new diabetes support group. Being certified verifies their competence and demonstrates that they are providing evidence-based care.
"Education is critically important for people who have diabetes," says Frye. "Our goal is to provide individual assessment and education plans for each patient. The certification should give patients confidence that we have the distinct and specialized knowledge to help them manage their disease."
In addition to the diabetes educator certification, Frye is also a certified medical surgical registered nurse and an end of life nursing education consortium prepared educator. She joined the staff at Morris Hospital in 2008 as a general educator and has a Master's degree in Nursing from Olivet Nazarene University.
Ulivi holds a Master's degree in Nursing from Lewis University. She has worked at Morris Hospital for 25 years and currently serves on the code blue and cancer committees. She is certified in oncology and pain management and facilitates the hospital's new cancer support group, in addition to serving as the training center coordinator for American Heart Association classes at Morris Hospital.
In order to maintain their diabetes educator certification, Frye and Ulivi will be required to provide 1,100 clinical hours of diabetes care and complete 75 hours of continuing education over the next five years.
For more information on diabetes education and support services at Morris Hospital, call 815-942-2932, ext. 7362.
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