Clinical Dietitian

Job Summary :

Fully competent, experienced dietitian who can cover all patient care units including critical care (ICU and PICU). Provides comprehensive nutritional care to patients of all ages. Assesses nutrition needs, develops, implements / revaluates care plans for patients of all ages. Educates patients and family members. Communicates patient issues to the health care team. Modifies diet orders and makes recommendations for enteral feeding modifications and nutrition supplements.

Job Responsibilities :

Nutritional Care :

• Provides comprehensive nutrition care to assigned patients by assessing nutritional needs, developing, implementing, and re-evaluating nutritional care plans. Modifies diet orders.
• Provides coverage of all inpatient units. Outpatient : Attends and participates in multidisciplinary rounds for all designated clinics. Provides cross-coverage for other outpatient areas as assigned.
• Performs initial nutrition screening of patients and determines patient nutrition risk level classification (e.g. low, moderate or high risk) on assigned units according to established nutrition care policy. Outpatient : Responds to referring to clinician, patient, family or the care giver regarding nutrition related issues within 24 hours of notification.
• Completes comprehensive nutrition assessment of patients who are at high or moderate nutrition risk within twenty-four to forty-eight hours of admission. Using the Nutrition Care Process, determines nutrition diagnosis, evaluates nutrition requirements, and develops nutrition care according to established nutrition care plan. Outpatient : Completes comprehensive nutrition assessment of all patients seen on day of initial visit.
• Completes nutrition assessment of low nutrition risk patients on assigned patient units within seven days of admission according to established nutrition care policy.
• Calculate patient nutrition requirements using standardized formulas (i.e., determine estimated calorie, fluid, protein requirements).
• Initiates and recommend diet and / or diet changes and appropriate enteral formulas and nutrition supplements to the physician or nurse practitioner, when needed, to meet patients’ calorie-protein requirements.
• Recommends nutrition support consultation when patient is unable to meet nutritional needs through p.o. intake.
• Monitors changes in patient’s nutrition status and evaluates ongoing appropriateness of diet prescription through meal rounds, and calorie counts.
• Completes timely nutrition reassessments / follow ups according to patients’ nutrition risk level and established nutrition care policy.
• Arranges for enteral feeding for outpatient / home care services as needed, prior to patient discharge. Outpatient : Coordinates the delivery of nutritional supplements to patient’s home, obtains prior authorization number from Medicaid, submits a prescription for supplements and supplies appropriate documentation.
• Refers patients to other services such as GI Nutrition Services, Social Services, Speech Therapy, and Integrative medicine as needed prior to discharge.

Required Skills & Experience :

Preferred Skills & Experience :

Oncology experience.

Required Education :

Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics .

Required Certifications & Licensure :