Licensed Dietician

The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist role provides nutritional analysis and guidance to individual residents to treat and prevent disease. They also work closely with the Dietary Department to maintain good nutritional standards and process improvement. This position is responsible for overseeing regulatory compliance for county and state regulations Essential Job Functions: Assesses the nutritional needs of residents. Develops and evaluates regular and therapeutic diets, including texture of foods and liquids, to meet the specialized needs of residents. Develops and implements person-centered education programs involving food and nutrition services for all facility staff. Oversees the budget and purchasing of food and supplies, food preparation, service and storage. Participates in the quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI), as described in §483.75, when food and nutrition services are involved. Provides nutritional services for the facility’s residents in order to maximize their nutritional status and improve clinical outcomes. Oversees regulatory compliance for county and state regulations. Annually provides required training to all staff for culture change and dining. Actively participates in process improvement activities that enhance the likelihood that residents will achieve their resident-specific dietary goals, as determined by their physician. Provides resident-specific education to resident/family regarding nutritional status, adequacy measures and results, fluid status, and all other nutrition-related parameters. Completes nutritional assessment and participates in the interdisciplinary comprehensive assessments. Participates with the interdisciplinary team in the development of a written, individualized comprehensive plan of care that specifies the services necessary to address the resident’s needs, in accordance with established Federal and, where applicable, state licensure guidelines. Ensures resident satisfaction, proper diet maintenance, quality care, regulatory compliance and good public relations through safe and efficient use of resources. Provides residents with ongoing nutrition assessment and outcome-oriented nutrition counseling necessary to assist residents in achieving and sustaining an effective nutritional status. Identifies malnourished residents as well as residents at risk for malnutrition and works collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team to identify appropriate interventions, resources or solutions. Implements a plan of care with involvement of resident and/or family members. Monitors adherence and response to nutrition therapy, adjusts therapy as needed to achieve and sustain an effective nutritional status, documents why the resident was unable to achieve the goals and implements the plan of care to address issues impacting the resident’s ability to achieve the goals. When appropriate, works with Case Manager to coordinate plans of care for resident education and identifies candidates to refer to physicians for nutritional supplements, as per disease management agreements. Participates in pertinent staff meetings (i.e. general staff, quality improvement), Care plan meetings, and others as applicable. Consults with the Dietitian consultant regarding nutrition concerns as needed. Maintains and improves knowledge and skills for a competent and innovative practice. Maintains dietetic registration and continuing education hours as specified by American Dietetic Association and state licensure regulations where applicable. Collaborates with an interdisciplinary team, ensuring that all work areas are safe and clean. Participates in Infection Control, Quality Assurance, Resident Care and Safety Committee meetings. Attends in-service education and staff meetings as required. Follows all HIPAA regulations. Reacts appropriately to emergencies and disaster situations. Is courteous, considerate and cooperative when communicating with all facility personnel, residents and the public. Promotes and maintains good public relations on behalf of the facility. Participates in annual CDPH surveys. Performs other duties as required and assigned. Job Functions: Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions. Appreciates the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information. Demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property. Ability to read, speak and understand English, follow directions and complete the assigned responsibilities of the department. Demonstrate ability to instruct staff in correct procedures to be followed in the Dietary Department. Demonstrate ability to effectively supervise dietary personnel. Ability to plan and direct the food service operation to meet the individual needs of the residents. Demonstrate ability to manage within the dietary department budget. Must present self in a professional manner. Must be available and flexible with schedule to work the necessary hours to complete all job functions of the department. Ability to follow appropriate safety guidelines. Must meet all local health regulations and pass a pre-employment physical exam, which includes drug screening, criminal background investigation and reference inquiry. Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others. Qualifications/Requirements: Education: Graduate with a BS in Food and Nutrition or a related field. License: Credentialed as a Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Work Experience: At least one year experience in nursing home setting preferred Language Skills: Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language. Mathematical Skills: Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume. Communication Skills: Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic. Ability to effectively communicate with residents, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies. Computer literate and able to use Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet. Physical Capacities: (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices) Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday. Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met. Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination. Must be able to sit, stand and walk. Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds. Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position. Environmental Conditions: Primarily inside work, normal to above-normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff. HIPAA is a law that must be followed by all healthcare personnel at every level. This position is a Mandated Reporter regarding the suspicion of elder abuse and may have access to Protected Health Information (PHI). #J-18808-Ljbffr Links Healthcare LLC