Registered Dietitian

Registered Dietitian

The Registered/Clinical Dietitian renders patient care nutritional services to patients and the Physician and Nursing staffs as directed by the Assistant Director of Nutrition Services. S/he communicates with physicians and nurses in response to patient's complex nutritional needs. S/he is cognizant and supportive of the mission, vision, Patient's Bill of Rights, objectives, policies and procedures of the Department of Food & Nutrition Services and of Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. The Registered/Clinical Dietitian functions in a collaborative and consultative capacity with members of the health care team.

Essential functions include:

• Appropriately identifies patients at nutritional risk. Accurately calculates metabolic needs, i.e. energy, protein, fluid, and/or specific nutrients. Recommends appropriate nutrition intervention based on subjective and objective data.
• Accurately documents the initial and ongoing assessments of patients' nutritional status and progress as determined by departmental policies and procedures.
• Educates in accordance with guidelines established by the nutrition care manual. Determines patients' comprehension of education and appropriate follow up recommendations made.
• Document in a concise manner that reflects the problem, patient needs and goals, learning capabilities/limitations and progress toward established goals
• Documentation is legible and unacceptable abbreviations are not used.
• Effectively communicates nutrition care information when patients are transferred
• Actively participates in in-service education with clinical staff and allied health professionals.
• Actively participates in the process of performance improvement.
• Identifies patient by age. Demonstrates competency in addressing age specific patient care issues.
• Follow all safety rules and regulations of the Hospital, attends all safety in-services as scheduled and demonstrates competency in these areas.
• Assumes responsibility for nutritional assessment for the following groups of patients: adult critical care patients, adult patients receiving enteral nutrition support, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, adolescents, adult and geriatric in-patients.
• Monitors and manages the nutritional services aspects of care for the above groups of patients in consultation with the physician and other members of the health care team.
• Documents all aspects of care related to nutritional services in the above-mentioned groups of patients.
• Reviews nutritional status, all laboratory values and other pertinent information and determines a nutritional care plan based on patient population served.
• Participates in the promotion and implementation of policies, procedures and protocols related to nutrition care.
• Provides in-service and continuing education programs for physicians, nursing and Food Services personnel.
• Assumes the role of patient educator for those patients requiring educational support.
• Contacts physicians, without hesitation, to discuss any problems.
• Participates in clinical rounds with the interdisciplinary team.
• Updates the nutrition care plan and cboard files on a regular basis to maintain communication with the support staff.
• Handles all confidential information in conformance with department and hospital policy. Maintains confidentiality of patient's records and information.
• Participates in community education efforts such as Health Fairs and school presentations.
• Regularly attends staff meetings.
• Performs meal rounds and taste testing as assigned.
• Performs all other duties as required.

Formal education and job-related requirements include a minimum formal education of bachelor's degree. License, Registration, or Cert. Required: RD or RDE. Shift - On call for 5 days a week, 8am-4pm. On call for 7am-3pm or 9am-5pm. Hourly rate - $42.3935.

Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.