TINA FITZGERALD ACHIEVES RENEWAL OF

CERTIFIED DIABETES EDUCATOR STATUS

The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) announced that Tina Fitzgerald, BSN, RN, Certified Diabetic Educator (CDE), Community Health Nurse at Mendota Community Hospital, has renewed the Certified Diabetes Educator status by successfully completing the continuing education renewal option process. Candidates must meet rigorous eligibility requirements to be eligible for certification. Achieving the CDE credential demonstrates to people with diabetes and employers that the health care professional possesses distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting quality of care for people with diabetes. Currently, there are only 17,000 diabetes educators who hold NCBDE certification.

Tina Fitzgerald has worked at Mendota Community Hospital for over 37 years. She received her Associate's degree in nursing from Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, IL and her Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. Currently Ms. Fitzgerald works as the hospital's Community Health Nurse providing outreach screenings and programs in Mendota and the surrounding communities for both the public and businesses. As diabetic educator at MCH she provides diabetic instruction to inpatients and outpatients. Before she began working exclusively in Community Health Services, Ms. Fitzgerald worked in the Medical Surgical Unit, Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Departments at the hospital. She also has served as assistant night supervisor and relief charge.

Ms. Fitzgerald lives in Mendota with her husband, Paul. They have one son, Michael, (Angie) and two grandchildren.

NCBDE was established in 1986 to develop and administer a certification program for health care professionals who teach individuals with diabetes how to manage their disease. Through the development, maintenance, and protection of the certification process and the CDE credential, NCBDE recognizes and advances the specialty practice of diabetes education. NCBDE supports the concept of voluntary, periodic certification for all diabetes educators who meet credential and experience eligibility requirements. For more information visit the web site at www.ncbde.org.