Registered Dietitian

Public Health Nutritionist

An employee in this class is responsible for evaluating the provided nutrition services and medical nutrition therapy. A Public Health Nutritionist plays an important part in assessing the nutrition needs of our patients, our WIC clients, patients with Diabetes, and within the community.

Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

• Certifies patients who meet criteria and documents in medical records to provide appropriate services.
• Develops and documents appropriate nutrition plan of care to comply with program guidelines and practice standards.
• Monitors patient's nutrition status to identify needs.
• Assigns appropriate supplemental food packages to comply with program guidelines.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:

• Evaluates how well a subordinate or peer performs according to policies and program guidelines, as required.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

• Handles complaints and misunderstandings to minimize disputes and facilitate performance, as needed.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Maintain continuing education as required by the Commission of Dietetic Registration.
• Attends required trainings in order to stay up to date with current knowledge and policies.

Processing Information:

• Performs calculations to determine client risk criteria such as body mass index, gestational age, appropriate nutrition intake, and estimated date of delivery.

Training and Teaching Others:

• Serves as the nutrition expert on multi-agency committees by providing technical nutrition information and advice.
• Develops and provides a variety of teaching strategies and tools, including posters or lesson plans to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.
• Conveys information on breastfeeding techniques, diabetes care, and other nutrition issues by using multiple media to promote lifestyles behaviors.

Performing Administration Activities:

• Documents information associated with the patients' nutrition care plan, Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), nutrition counseling, and education into patients' medical records according to the policies and guidelines.
• Prepares report as directed by supervisors to track nutrition activities, as required.
• Enters patients' information according to Subjective Objective Assessment Plan or other required format according to the department's polices and guidelines.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

Interprets and explains nutrition data and risks to the patient to promote behavior change and comply with program guidelines.

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

Assists in the development of long-range goals and objectives to create nutrition and breastfeeding plans, as needed.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates:

Provides guidance and direction to subordinates, including monitoring performance to improve or maintain standards as needed.

Getting Information:

Interviews patients to assess their literacy level, cultural background and readiness to learn.

Assesses nutrition-related questionnaires and data to determine the patient's stage of readiness and goals.

Consults with healthcare providers to determine the nutrition-related needs of the patient.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and efficiently accomplish work.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

Communicates with supervisors and co-workers using multiple media to relay work-related information effectively.

Staffing Organizational Units:

Assists in the recruiting and/or interviewing process to fill staff positions, as required.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

• Identifies and contacts health care providers and staff of health facilities, health department programs, and agencies within the community that can offer medical care and social services assistance to patients.
• Maintains knowledge of community resources to provide referrals and resources to the public.
• Promotes community nutrition and education activities for healthy lifestyle behavior changes.

Analyzing Data or Information:

• Analyzes medical information, including cholesterol and blood glucose levels, biochemical data, or anthropometric data, to identify lab value fluctuations, how food interacts with patients' medication, or other nutrition-related information, as required.
• Compares patient's data against program nutrition risk criteria to determine program eligibility.
• Evaluates progress on nutrition goals utilizing patient input to determine the patient stage of change.
• Identifies and assesses community nutrition trends and needs at the local level to develop appropriate services for the public.

Coaching and Developing Others:

• Mentors others to improve their knowledge or skills, as needed.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

• Schedules activities for subordinates to ensure quality nutrition services, as required.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relations:

• Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with others to promote an effective work environment.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS:

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position has no fiscal responsibilities.

Qualifications

JOB QUALIFICATIONS – KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Competencies:

• Decision Quality
• Problem Solving
• Action Oriented
• Written Communications
• Customer Focus
• Interpersonal Savvy
• Listening
• Understanding Others

Knowledge:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Therapy and Counseling

Skills:

• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Writing
• Instructing
• Social Perceptiveness
• Judgment and Decision Making

Abilities:

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Auditory Attention
• Speech Clarity
• Speech Recognition

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS/ACTIVITIES:

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The incumbent frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The incumbent is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and climb or balance. The incumbent must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and is not a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may also be assigned job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Montgomery County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (Section 1981) and 1964 (Title VI, VII,) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Equal Pay Act (