HFIL | Dietitian | Per Diem

Nutritional Care Specialist

Provides appropriate patient nutritional care. Assesses the nutritional status of patients, formulates a care plan, coordinates its implementation, and evaluates its impact and effectiveness. Provides nutrition education to patients/families/staff.

Interviews patients to obtain information regarding food habits and cultural food preferences. Coordinates with diet clerks to ensure accuracy of diets served.

Applies the principles of growth and development over the life span, assesses, as appropriate, and interprets data, determines patient care requirements and delivers care relative to the patients' age specific needs.

Reviews information from interdisciplinary screening mechanism to prioritize high risk patients according to policy.

Provides education/nutrition counseling for diet modifications and food-drug interactions to patient, family and caretaker based on need, learning preference and readiness, cultural, ethnic and personal food preferences.

Accurately assesses patient's nutritional status and determines appropriate nutritional diagnosis based on approved assessment policy.

Assures that assessments are completed in a timely manner.

Establishes nutrition intervention plans that are measurable and appropriate to the assessment.

Provides follow-up (reassessment) to see if recommendations are implemented and effective or suggests changes to the plan of nutritional care.

Documents all interventions, assessments, education and care plans in the medical record according to approved content and format.

Addresses discrepancies in diet orders if not ordered within the guideline of the diet manual.

Contacts physician with any questions or irregularities regarding nutritional care; shows no hesitancy in making contact.

Makes rounds to nursing units to check for any problems, inconsistencies, or patients who are at potential nutritional risk.

Assists in the development of monitoring of clinical performance indicators for the department.

Evaluates patient tolerance to therapeutic diets when appropriate.

Collaborates with other hospital services such as medical staff, nursing services, pharmacy service, social services, etc. to plan and implement patient care as necessary in meeting the nutritional needs of the patients. Maintains pertinent patient data necessary to recommend or modify therapeutic diets as needed meet the nutritional needs of the patients.

Performs other duties as assigned or required.