Clinical Dietitian

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary

The Clinical Dietitian (RD) provides patients, visitors, and co-workers with outstanding customer service. Dietitians will provide comprehensive, high quality nutritional care to patients in the hospital, clinics, and related entities (Hospice, clinics, dialysis etc.). This will include, but is not limited to examinations, assessments and/or diet counseling-instructions for patients/families on assigned units. Each Registered Dietitian (RD) will make appropriate recommendations to physicians. Assessments will be documented electronically in the Medical Record. Other duties include research, teaching, and community service. 

Essential Functions:

• Utilizes the Nutrition Care Process and Evidence Based Practice Guidelines to provide nutrition care to various patient populations. 

• Completes nutrition assessments ad physician consult and develops nutrition diagnoses.

• Completes nutrition assessments, develops nutrition diagnoses, recommends appropriate diet prescriptions and interventions, calculates nutrient intake data and enteral tube feeding and TPN/PPN formulas. Ensures that patients receive the appropriate nutritional support. 

• Assesses learning needs and provides nutrition education to patients and families. 

• Monitors the effectiveness of nutrition care provided and revises care plans as needed. 

• Liaison between Nursing, Medical Staff, and other support services i.e., speech, OT, case management.

• Relates information on patients to food production staff and Nutrition Aides. Provides in-service education when needed.

• Educate physicians, nurses, and other professionals regarding medical nutrition therapy.

• Documentation of all initial and follow-up assessments, instructions, and counseling in patients’ electronic medical record.

• Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team. Participate in multidisciplinary rounds to communicate interventions and promote collaborative patient care.

• Exhibits positive customer service skills and responds to patient, family, and visitor concerns. 

• Participates in nutrition education projects for staff and the community. Serves as a preceptor for Dietetic Students and orients new staff members.

• Attend or perform continuing education to maintain registration.

• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Education/Certifications:
(1) The individual must have earned a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and fulfilled each of the following criteria:
(a) Completed a didactic program in dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), formerly known as the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE).
(b) Completed an ACEND accredited or approved supervised practice program. Supervised practice programs are post-baccalaureate degree programs that provide supervised practice experiences which meet the eligibility requirements and accreditation standards of ACEND, formally known as CADE. Completion of a coordinated program in dietetics fulfills the requirements of a supervised practice program. Time spent in a dietetic internship or supervised practice program does not qualify as creditable experience.

Minimum Work Experience:
1-2 years as a Registered Dietitian Preferred

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:  

Must be willing to work holidays, weekends and provide additional coverage as needed

Working Conditions:  

• Works regularly under desirable conditions with little or no disagreeable features.  Illumination and ventilation are good, and distractions are at a minimum considering the type of work performed.  Job may have risk of exposure to hazardous conditions and blood borne pathogens. 

• Sedentary: lifting to 10-20 pounds occasionally and /or negligible amount frequently.  Employee will sit most of the time but may walk or stand occasionally for brief periods.  Knowledge of proper body mechanics is essential.

• Occasional forward bending, crouching, knelling, twisting, climbing, reaching forward or overhead and keyboard data entry.

• Deals with adults of diverse background on the job.  Thorough knowledge of the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of adults