Clinical Dietitian

Nutritional Care Specialist

Under the general supervision of the Senior Clinical Dietitians Specialists and the Clinical Nutrition Director/Supervisor and in accordance with established policies, procedures, and departmental standards of practice: Provides nutritional care to hospital patients throughout their Brown University Health. Interviews patients and/or family members and reviews electronic health records in order to assess nutritional needs and develop nutrition plans of care. Monitors and evaluates indicators and outcomes data directly related to the nutrition diagnosis, goals, preferences, and intervention strategies to determine the progress made in achieving desired results of nutrition care and whether planned interventions should be continued or revised. Documents patient progress and updates nutritional plan as necessary in the electronic health record. Directs the activities of support personnel in assigned work area, as needed.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate.

Principal duties and responsibilities include:

• Uses accurate and relevant data and information to identify nutrition related problems.
• Assesses current and past information related to personal, medical, family, and psychosocial/social history.
• Assesses anthropometric indicators (e.g. height, weight, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference), comparison to reference data (e.g. percentile ranks/z-scores) and individual patterns and history.
• Assesses laboratory profiles (e.g. acid-base balance, renal function, endocrine function, inflammatory response, vitamin/mineral profile, lipid profile), medical tests and procedures (e.g. gastrointestinal study, metabolic rate).
• Obtains, assesses and reassesses findings from the Nutrition-focused physical examination (NFPE) (e.g. indicators of vitamin, mineral deficiency/toxicity, edema, muscle wasting, subcutaneous fat loss, altered body composition, malnutrition, pressure injuries, oral health, feeding ability, appetite, and affect).
• Obtains food and nutrition related history including food and nutrient intake, food and nutrient administration, medication and diet supplement use, knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes (e.g. understanding of nutrition related concepts, emotions about food and/or weight, readiness to change nutrition or health related behaviors, and activities and actions influencing achievement of nutrition related goals), and food security.
• Uses reference data and standards to estimate nutrient needs and recommended body weight, BMI, and desired growth patterns.
• Collects data and reviews data collected and/or documented by the dietetic technician and other health care practitioners, patients, or staff for factors that affect nutrition and health status.
• Uses collected data to identify possible problem areas for determining nutrition diagnosis.
• Re-evaluates and revises nutrition diagnosis(es) per department standards of care.
• Bases intervention/plan of care on best available research/evidence and information, evidence based guidelines, and best practices.
• Documents patients' nutritional care plans on the Interdisciplinary Plan of Care in addition to routine documentation in patients' electronic health records and regularly monitors patients' nutritional status updating the Plan of Care per departmental standards of care.
• Participates in the discharge planning process, evaluating the patient's condition from a nutritional perspective and recommending programs, procedures, etc., which will enhance the patient's readiness for discharge.
• Conducts individual and group patient nutrition education both inpatient and outpatient, preparing the patient and his/her family for continued care at home.
• Provides nutrition education, through seminars and workshops, for physicians and other health care professionals, including professional peer groups in the community.
• Represents Food &Nutrition Services at interdisciplinary meetings.
• Participates in patient satisfaction initiatives and department programs in customer service for meeting the department and hospital mission, vision and goals.
• Participates in department quality improvement programs and department financial and productivity measures as requested.
• May be requested to participate in community and media programs.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Bachelor's Degree in Food and Nutrition or a related concentration from a US Accredited College/University approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
• Completed ACEND accredited supervised practice program and successfully passed national examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) by the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• If registration eligible must provide documentation of scheduled registration exam date.
• License as a Dietitian/Nutritionist in the state of Rhode Island (must have within 3 months of hire).
• Proof of application for license to be submitted upon employment.
• If registration eligible must have proof of Rhode Island Department of Health License as a Dietitian/Nutritionist Graduate Practice prior to start date and must pass the CDR Registration Exam and obtain LDN license within 3 months of hire.
• All unlicensed dietitians' notes are cosigned by a licensed registered dietitian until a license is obtained.
• Thorough understanding of the application of principles of nutrition to human physiology in adult and pediatric disease states.
• Thorough knowledge of the nutrition care process and the nutritional values of food and food groups.
• The analytical ability to identify overt and potential nutritional problems.
• The ability to develop nutritional plans of care.
• The ability to communicate nutrition education through formal and informal channels.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• The administrative ability to direct and coordinate the delivery of quality nutrition care in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Maintenance of Commission on Dietetic Registration through completion of 75 hours of continuing education every five years and Rhode Island LDN of 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years.
• Membership preferred in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and relevant practice groups such as the Medical Nutrition Practice Group (MNPG) or the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (PNPG).
• Ability to resolve patient food service satisfaction issues through a thorough knowledge of patient service operation (training provided on the job).
• Proficient computer skills in MS Word. MS PowerPoint and MS Excel preferred.

Experience: One to two years of experience as a Clinical Dietitian, preferred.

Work environment and physical requirements include:

• Sits, stands and walks intermittently throughout the day.
• Exposed to a normal patient care environment when visiting patients and when meeting with other health care personnel.
• May be required to lift up to 10 pounds. Hazards are minimized with adherence to established safety precautions.
• Travel may be required to off-site facilities.

Supervisory responsibility: None.