Dietitian - Nutrition Therapy

Job Summary The Dietitian at North Mississippi Health Services is responsible for conducting nutritional assessments, developing care plans, and monitoring patients' progress to ensure effective medical nutrition therapy. They provide individual counseling to patients with specific dietary needs, teach diet services to staff, and mentor peers and assistants in patient care. The role requires strong communication skills, adherence to regulatory standards, budgetary awareness, and the ability to work independently, make informed decisions, and collaborate with various healthcare professionals.

Job Functions

Nutritional Assessment/Care Plans

Assesses patients/residents as referred by the physician or nurse, as determined to be high nutritional risk or per regulatory requirements and develops plans for medical nutrition therapy.

Monitors patients’/residents’ progress to assure efficacy of chosen nutrition therapy and recommends changes in therapy to the physician.

Implements plans as ordered.

Per policy guidelines, rounds on patients and residents.

Participates in patient satisfaction programs.

Education

Counsels patients/clients individually with a wide variety of disease-specific needs as appropriate for age.

Teaches diet in services to food nutrition staff as needed.

Mentors less experienced peers and Dietitian’s Assistants in patient care.

Trains dietetic interns, as assigned.

Communication

Discusses patient’s/resident’s nutrition problems with the healthcare team, as appropriate; documents pertinent information and recommendations in the medical record.

Serves on patient care teams to improve specific patients’ care.

Communicates need for changes in food service and clinical standards appropriately within FNS.

Collects & submits data/information in a timely manner for Performance Improvement & other required reports.

Communicates changes in patient/resident food services to Nursing & other departments, as appropriate.

Communicates schedule, operational & procedural changes to all customers effectively and timely.

Assists in programs for all internal and external customers to help meet their expectations and needs.

Complies and submits data and reports assigned appropriately and on a timely basis.

Rounds on patients and residents.

Works closely with CDM to ensure that food staff is compliant with regulations, policies/procedures.

Budget

Assists in budget requests and planning as needed, and is aware of status of budgetary adherence.

Demonstrates and participates in controlling costs and minimizing waste.

Safe Food Handling & Sanitation

Complies with proper food sanitation & complies with State Board of Health Standards.

Must perform monthly and as needed sanitation rounds in kitchen and report findings to director and administrator.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's Degree – B.S. degree in Foods & Nutrition or qualifying nutrition-related major (Required).

Maintains continuing education requirements (Required).

Licenses and Certifications

Registered or registry-eligible, defined by Commission on Dietetic Registration / American Dietetic Association (Upon Hire – Required).

State licensure is required, or be able to obtain within 60 Days (Required).

Serve Safe Certification or achieved within 1 Year (Preferred).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Has basic computer skills and knowledge (Required).

Demonstrates nutrition care competency with assigned populations eg. infants, children, adolescent, adult, geriatrics (Required).

Uses the breadth of the facility’s, department’s, and area resources to solve patient-care problems (Required).

Knowledgeable about and adheres to current regulatory-agency standards in area of practice (Required).

Interprets and utilizes current nutrition and medical research and changes practice accordingly (Required).

Develops educational materials, incorporating new knowledge and accommodating different literacy levels (Required).

Adheres to NMHS's mission, vision & values regarding quality patient care and customer service (Required).

Participates in community outreach activities; responds to nutritional questions from the community (Required).

Self starter, works independently, balances a variety tasks (Required).

Prioritizes work; demonstrates teamwork, works with FNS staff to meet patient’s/resident’s nutritional needs (Required).

Serves as an assistant to Director and directs Food Services in the absence of the Director - assist in department in whichever role is needed (Required).

Take call with CDM to ensure adequate coverage in the Food services Department (Required).

Frequent contact with internal & external customers; i.e., patients /residents, visitors, Medical staff, Nurses, other healthcare professionals, FNS staff and dietetic interns (Required).

Works cooperatively with fellow team members to ensure positive and productive work atmosphere (Required).

Effectively and professionally consults with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, speech pathologists and other health care providers on alternate choices of medical nutrition therapy as appropriate (Required).

Serves as a FNS representative for patients with complex nutritional needs and who have food service issues (Required).

Regularly recognizes and acknowledges staff for a job well done (Required).

Reflects a positive, caring attitude toward all patients, staff and the public (Required).

Resolves customer complaints and consumer questions appropriately and effectively (Required).

Demonstrates adherence to NMHS’ Mission, Vision and Values Statement and to Service Excellence Standards (Required).

All applicants must be eligible for interview and offered a competitive compensation package. Equal Opportunity Employer . The Division of Human Resources and the National Centers for Health Statistics (NCHS) maintain the most accurate data and reliable secondary data the Office of Prevention Programming (OPP) uses for health planning and development.

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