What Every Nurse Should Know About Diabetes Specialization

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🎙️

If you’ve been questioning your next move in healthcare or looking for a path that offers impact, stability, and purpose, this episode is for you. Today, you’ll learn how to build a meaningful career in diabetes care, elevate your clinical confidence, and position yourself as a leader in chronic disease management. You’ll walk away with clarity on what it truly takes to grow, specialize, and make a difference in communities that need you.

🔥 In This Episode:
We’re unpacking the real-world steps YOU can take to become a diabetes-focused NP — from the academic foundation to certifications, clinical experience, and entrepreneurship. More importantly, you’ll hear the mindset shifts, confidence-building strategies, and practical lessons that will help you succeed whether you're still in school, at the bedside, or already practicing. This conversation shows you how to expand your career without burning out or feeling lost.

✨ What You’ll Gain from This Episode:
✅ A clear understanding of the NP pathway and how to specialize in diabetes care
✅ Real examples of how to build expertise, credibility, and a fulfilling clinical identity
✅ Tools to elevate patient education, especially for underserved communities
✅ Strategies to overcome self-doubt, advocate for yourself, and negotiate your worth

💡 This episode empowers you to imagine a career where you are deeply valued, well-prepared, and confident — all while making a real impact on patient outcomes. Press play and step into your next season of growth with intention.


🎧 Listen now:
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Gg5CAGtohAA
Podcast Apps: https://themelanininitiativespodcast.buzzsprout.com


💬 Tell us in the comments: What skill or specialty are YOU ready to grow into next?

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Check out our Nursing Education Playlist! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D75pGW1nRl4&list=PL-gEmMXD5N0SHUoK7EQS7mZmUoddFQvR7

Connect with our Guest Nykkia Sellers, DNP, FNP, BC-ADM, CDCE:
Website: mydcwellness.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nykkia-sellers-dnp-fnp-bc-adm-cdces-a2509317b

Resources Mentioned:
American Diabetes Association (ADA): www.diabetes.org
Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES): adces.org
National Black Nurses Association: www.nbna.org
Feeding the Root Dietitian Services – feedingtheroot.com



Stay Connected with The Melanin Initiative Podcast: 
✨ Visit our Website: https://tmi-melanin.my.canva.site/tmi


VIDEO Chapters (Timestamps + Topics): 
00:00 Intro: Empowering Health Literacy and Nursing Voices 
03:40 Icebreaker: Finding Your "Winning Season" 
05:50 The Roadmap: From RN to Specialized Nurse Practitioner 
14:00 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Accepting You Are the Expert 
16:30 Why Get a DNP? Moving from Practice to Leadership 
19:23 What is a CDCES? The Certification That Changes Patient Outcomes 
23:15 Know Your Worth: How to Negotiate Pay and Confidence 
27:35 Building a Business: Hiring Staff and Scaling a Private Practice 30:30 The Power of Words: "Hypertension" vs. "High Blood Pressure" 
34:30 3 Steps to Launching Your Healthcare Business

Stay Connected with The Melanin Initiative Podcast:

✨ Mahogany Dermatology Nursing Bookstore: https://www.cosmeticnp.org/mahogany-dermatology-bookstore

✨ https://tmi-melanin.my.canva.site/tmi

✨ Email Us: tmi.melanin@gmail.com

✨ Increase your Health Literacy IQ: Caring For Us: www.caring4us.org