Dietetic Technician

Job Description

Job Summary:

• Provides nutrition care services for patients/clients to address prevention and treatment of acute and chronic diseases and conditions and the promotion of overall health and wellness in conjunction with the registered dietitian nutritionist.
• Participates in enteral feeding preparation by adhering to aseptic technique when producing specialty formula and human milk mixtures for patient consumption.
• Adheres to standards of food safety and sanitation, best practices for formula and human milk preparation in a hospital setting, regulatory standards, departmental and hospital policies and procedures in the execution of assigned duties.

Essential Functions:

Patient Care

• Completes nutrition assessments of patients within Product of practice of Dietetic Technician-Registered based on screening and documentation guidelines.
• Implements and monitors nutritional interventions assigned by the RDN to meet the nutritional needs of patients.
• Estimates nutritional intakes of patients. Calculates and documents calorie counts as requested. Assists RDs with data collection as needed.
• Identifies patients in need of in-depth assessment by RD and transfers care appropriately.
• Instructs patients (and/or families, as appropriate) on restricted/special diets or special formulas.
• Refers for outpatient follow-up as necessary.
• Is knowledgeable regarding nutritional content, sources, and use of commercial supplements, tube feeding, infant formula, and feeding modulars (fat, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals).
• Inputs data from outpatient diet records on computer for analysis to be completed by outpatient dietitian. Maintain updates and enter new items in Food Processor.
• Provides nutrition and lactation education including assembly, cleaning and maintenance of breast pump equipment.

Enteral Feeding Production

• Prepares, portions, delivers patient enteral feeding orders accurately and timely.
• Knowledgeable about human milk, formulas and additives used in infant, pediatric and adult patients.
• Practices with a questioning attitude and escalates concerns, issues or discrepancies regarding enteral feeding orders, faulty equipment and unsafe working conditions appropriately.
• Adheres to applicable regulations, safety and infection prevention & control standards that govern enteral feeding production operations.
• Assists in the development of educational materials and other projects.
• Provides education with regard to nutrition and lactation.
• Participates in site specific education events as requested

Education:

• Associate’s Degree
• Nutrition or related program by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  OR
• Bachelor’s Degree (Nutrition dietetic (Not Nutrition Lifestyle) DEGREE
  by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Universities that meet requirements

Work Experience:

• Prior work experience in a hospital setting or WIC program Preferred

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:

• Nutrition and Dietetic Technician-Registered (NDTR) Commission on Dietetic Registration within 9 months Required
• Level 4 Worker – Covid Vax Required

Skills:

• Business Functions
• Maintains friendly, efficient demeanor and models Client ICARE Values and Service Standards.
• Participates in ongoing quality assurance and performance improvement activities as requested.
• Maintains productivity, screening and other documentation of activities as requested.
• Product inventory and management.
• Participates in training other employees as requested.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information.
• Professional Development/Leadership
• Collaborates and communicates with other members of the healthcare team
• Participates in any department staff meetings and education programs as requested.
• Maintains competence and professional development. Maintains registration as required. Uses reference materials, trends in dietetics, enteral feeding best practice guidelines and research to enhance clinical knowledge.
• Performs other duties as requested.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to patients and families, public, medical staff and physicians.
• Must be able to read English with understanding and write English legibly.
• Basic knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy in pediatric patients.
• Basic knowledge of nutrient analysis, word processing, and spreadsheet software.
• Competence in nutritional content, sources and use of commercial supplements, tube feedings, human milk, infant formulas and feeding modulars (fat, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals).
• Ability to perform increasingly complex mathematical calculations such as fractions, percentages, ratios, proportions and metric measures.
• Computer proficiency required.

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