Nutrition Lab Technician / Clinical Nutrition

Job Description

Schedule - Full Time, 30 hours (three 10-hour Shifts per week). Rotating schedule, weekdays and weekends. The Nutrition Lab is operational 7-days week from 7am-7pm.

At Children's Nebraska, our mission is to improve the life of every child through exceptional care, advocacy, research and education. As the state's only full-service pediatric healthcare center, we provide comprehensive, holistic care to our patients and families-from primary and specialty care to behavioral health services and everything in between. Dedicated to a People First culture, we foster an environment with joy, belonging, wellbeing, learning and growth. Turn your passion into purpose and make a difference where it matters most.

A Brief Overview
Under the direct supervision of a licensed Registered Nurse/Lactation Consultant and Registered Dietitian, the Nutrition Lab Technician performs technical functions associated with breastmilk and nutritional formula collection, preparation and distribution in accordance with specific provisions, standards, and governing professional organization regulations. Depending upon assignment, the principal areas of breastmilk/formula collection, preparation and distribution may include unit dose or large batch dosing, specialized breastmilk skimming, inventory management, infection prevention and related tasks, as required. Maintain established quality and safety measures per department procedures. Customer service, teamwork and communication are critical job functions.

Essential Functions

• The nutrition lab tech demonstrates knowledge and execution of a skillset necessary to meet the needs of daily operations in the Nutrition Center. They understand appropriate interpretation of the EMR formula and breastmilk orders. They respond to and triage requests from nursing, caregiver(s)/family, providers, and other ancillary support team members in a timely manner. They appropriately utilize and manage technology used in the day-to-day preparation, labeling and delivery of nutritional feedings and complete regulatory compliance inspection of all formula and nutritional modular products received in the Nutrition Center and other storage areas.
• Breastmilk Procedures (Twice Daily): This role requires breastmilk collection from patient bedside to be performed safely, accurately and in a timely manner. The tech receives breastmilk properly into Timeless Women's & Infants™ system for inventory management and properly stores received breastmilk in designated refrigerators or freezers. Fortified feedings need to be prepared accurately per the provider order twice daily, using aseptic technique and unit dosing. When skimmed milk is ordered, the tech must properly skim breastmilk using the designated centrifuge. The tech must ensure prepared feedings are held properly at controlled temperature prior to delivery and deliver prepared feedings to the bedside refrigerator in a safe and timely manner.
• Donor Human Milk (DHM): This role requires maintenance of DHM inventory (ordering, receiving, storage) following HMBANA regulations for safe storage and usage of DHM. The tech must properly prepare fortified feedings using DHM when ordered.
• Formula Procedures (Once Daily): This role requires ordered formula preparation using aseptic technique in 24-hour batch dosing. The tech must ensure prepared feedings are held properly at controlled temperature prior to delivery and deliver prepared formula feedings to the bedside refrigerator in a safe and timely manner, removing any expired formula products.
• Office Tasks:
  • Demonstrate strong and effective communication skills intra- and interdepartmentally.
  • Oversight for quality and safety review and daily report out (i.e. Eye On Safety).
  • Skilled in ordering office supplies and lab supplies using various ordering modes.
  • Oversight of all daily cleaning processes per policy and procedure.
  • Maintenance of daily temperature logs per policy and procedure.
  • Lead service recovery efforts quickly.
• Inventory Management:
  • Responsible for managing breastmilk inventory using Timeless Women's & Infants™ software.
  • Responsible for maintaining established product stock levels of formula, DHM, modulars and other supplies within the Nutrition Center as well as patient care areas.
  • Rotates inventory based on FIFO procedures for optimal expiration date management.
  • Collaboration with Central Supply team on receiving and delivery of products.
  • Effectively respond to product recall alerts per policy and procedure.
• Hubbard Nutrition Center Expectations:
  • Attend staff meetings
  • Participate in quality improvement initiatives
  • Meet deadlines for mandatory education/assignments.
• Regular attendance at work is an essential function of the job.
• Perform physical requirements as described in the Physical Requirements section.

Education Qualifications

• Associate's Degree from an accredited college or university Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• Experience working in a healthcare environment Preferred
• Experience with customer service Required

Skills and Abilities

• Skill in using a computer (e.g., MS Outlook, Excel, and Word, etc.) (High proficiency)
• Skill in basic math calculations (Medium proficiency)
• Skill in critical thinking and problem solving (Medium proficiency)
• Ability to demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills. (Medium proficiency)
• Ability to work with minimal supervision (Medium proficiency)
• Ability to multitask effectively (High proficiency)

Licenses and Certifications

• Infant Feeding Tech Certification within 1 Year Preferred
• Human Milk and Formula Technician Training Program through Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics within 1 Year Required

Children's is an equal opportunity employer, embracing and valuing the unique strengths and differences of people. We cultivate an inclusive environment of respect and trust where we all belong. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.