Registered Dietician

Job Description

Job Summary:

• Under general direction of Director of Clinical Nutrition Services.
• To provide and evaluate nutritional care services to patients on assigned units.
• Adheres to hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Participates in all activities as a member of the healthcare team.
• Under administrative direction, participates in and/or organizes, plans and/or directs the operation of the dietary service.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists in the development and implementation of departmental policies and procedures, to assure the highest quality of nutritional care to patients.
• Obtains medical and nutrition histories, and other pertinent information to complete timely documentation in patient’s medical record such as, nutritional assessments, re-assessments and discharge plans.
• Provides nutritional counseling, diet instructions and food/drug interaction instructions as necessary.
• Explains diet based upon patients’ needs to patient, family members and/or significant others and monitors tolerance to diet.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounding/discharge planning and other appropriate patient care meetings.
• Consults with physicians and other health care faculty members as necessary.
• Conducts rounds at meal time to observe patient food intake and provides them with nutrition information, which will enable them to make nutritionally balanced food choices; submits meal round reports in a timely manner.
• Teaches nutrition classes as needed to patients, employees, students and health care team members.
• Reports problems to immediate supervisor and recommends ways to improve nutritional services.
• Establishes rapport with all members of the health care team and within the department in order to assure good public relations and quality nutritional care to patients.
• Attends dietitians’ meetings, nutrition committee meetings and weekly departmental huddles as scheduled.
• Participates in the development and implementation of quality assurance activities including Productivity Reports, as assigned.
• Completes accurate Productivity Reports at end of shift daily.
• Assists in orientation, training, supervision and evaluation of nutrition students, Dietitian I, II and III.
• Maintains continuing education in nutrition, clinical dietetics, food service management and related areas as appropriate in order to update current knowledge and skills in the practice of dietetics and performance of assigned duties.
• Performs other related duties as required. May conduct nutrition classes, as a representative of the department and also be involved in community health fairs.
• Adheres to all infection control policies and procedures.
• Adheres to all safety policies and procedures as related to patients and environment (kitchen).
• Participates in department and area-specific in-services/continuing education requirements.
• May relieve in all areas/units as assigned.
• Perform any additional duties as assigned by the supervisors defined above.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree with a major in food and nutrition, food administration, or institutional management, from an accredited college or university (or the equivalent).
• AND… Is registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• A minimum of one year of professional dietetic experience in a clinical setting is desirable.
• Demonstrates knowledge of Medical Nutrition Therapy and Nutrition Care Process.
• Proficient in MS word and experience with electronic medical record.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to speak English fluently.
• Ability to speak Spanish and/or French/Haitian Creole, preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

Aptitude:

• Verbal ability to comprehend dietetic practices, principles and theories, to communicate with medical personnel and staff.
• To explain dietetic restrictions on the medical basis for dietetic restrictions to patients.

Numerical Ability:

• Required to complete dietetic values of food and to work with dietetic chemical formulas.
• Ability to calculate anthropometrics, weight status/changes, and nutritional needs.

Temperament:

• Empathy to patient care; ability to work with other personnel; well organized; conscientious and dependable.
• Demonstrates understanding of Dietary Guidelines and Medical Nutrition therapy.
• Applies clinical nutrition knowledge in order to evaluate and provide nutrition as well as assess nutritional status of patients with varied medical problems.
• Communicates effectively with patients of varying education and ethnic backgrounds.
• Communicates effectively with other healthcare professionals.
• Documents interventions according to department clinical standards. Interprets pertinent lab, physical and social data in medical records.
• Is able to develop nutrition education materials, plans, programs, and implements nutritional education in different clinical settings. Demonstrates food organizational skills.

Skills:

• Minimal one year of experience required.
• Two years of experience preferred

Schedule Hours Per Week: 40.00
Schedule Hours Per Day: 8.00
Schedule Days Per Week: 5.00