Job Summary

Plans and delivers nutritional care to patients according to the physicians’ diagnoses. Performs as a member of the multidisciplinary care team. Screens patients to identify nutritional risk. Prescribes therapeutic diet orders as allowed by medical staff bylaws and State Law. Exercises independent judgment under general supervision.

Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas

• Approves menus and nutritional supplements provided to patients.
• Assesses patients’ nutritional status according to established standards.
• Obtains necessary information from the medical record to determine patient’s nutritional status.
• Develops nutritional care plans for patients of any age including infant, child, adolescent, geriatric and terminally ill patients.
• Prescribes therapeutic diet orders as allowed by medical staff bylaws and State law.
• Develops nutritional care plans based on the cultural orientation of the patient.
• Evaluates the results of nutritional intervention on the patient’s nutritional status to determine the need to revise the nutritional care plan.
• Improves patient’s nutritional status by consulting with physician on appropriate nutritional interventions.
• Assists in developing and implementing patient nutrition care programs and ensures consistency of programs.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family. Provides nutritional teaching and counseling to patient/family in making desired changes in eating habits.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
• Provides food-drug interrelationship information to physician.
• Assists in orienting and inservicing new employees to department.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments.
• Documentation meets current standards and policies.
• Conducts inservice as requested to hospital staff and the community.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.

Professional Requirements

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Maintains regulatory requirements, including all federal, state, local regulations and accrediting organization standards.
• Maintains and ensures patient confidentiality at all times.
• Wears identification while on campus.
• Actively participates in the department’s continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.

Regulatory Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in course work approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
• Proof of passing the national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or the National Board Examination for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN).
• Participates in continuing educational requirements to maintain registration.
• Licensed dietitian status, if residing in a state with licensure requirements.

Language Skills

• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.

Skills

• Basic computer knowledge.

Physical Demands

• For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion and environment, see following description.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.