Qualifications :
Currently a Registered Dietitian with the Commission on Dietetics Registration / Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics with a Bachelor’s Degree or advanced degree from an accredited institution with a major in Foods and Nutrition
Bachelor’s Degree or advanced degree from an accredited institution with a major in Foods and Nutrition including completion of an accredited Dietetic Internship with eligibility to take the Registered Dietitian examination with the Commission on Dietetics Registration / Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Exam must be passed within 6 months of completion of the dietetic internship
- Current BLS from the American Heart Association for Healthcare Providers
- Experience in clinical nutrition in an acute care or long term care facility preferred
Duties &
Responsibilities : Job Summary
Job Summary
The Clinical Dietitian performs a variety of specialized duties related to the nutrition care of patients including nutrition screening, nutrition assessments / reassessments, implementation of a nutrition care plan, evaluates and revises the nutrition care plan based on the patient’s progress, determines the appropriateness of nutrition support with tube feedings or Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) which includes recommendations for the type / quantity and includes evaluating the patient’s progress with nutrition support therapy, and provides Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) diet education to patients / families.
Duties
- Keeps lines of communication open between Medical Staff, Nursing Staff and Nutrition Services by reviewing patient nutrition care issues directly as needed
- Interprets physician diet orders and modifies the diet according to diet patterns and patient preferences and / or provides recommendations for adjusting the nutrition therapy / diet order per the patient’s disease state or ability to consume an adequate diet
- Interviews patients / families which may include obtaining a diet history, as part of the nutrition assessment process or diet counseling and documents this in the nutrition assessment / reassessment or Diet Education documentation
- Provides food / meal substitutions if patient is unable to eat the meal provided, in accordance with the diet therapy, or if appropriate recommends diet order liberalization
- Plans between-meal nourishments for patients as necessary
- Relates patient diet preferences information to Nutrition Services utilizing the Computerized Electronic Health Record
- Counsels patients / families on medical nutrition / diet therapy principles and restrictions per physician, nurse, patient or family request
- Utilizes available medical nutrition therapy education materials or obtains them from reputable sources or from the Oroville Hospital Electronic Library
- Completes nutrition screening daily by prioritizing patients to be assessed per departmental guidelines and time frames
- Completes a nutrition assessment on patients receiving a tube feeding or parenteral (TPN) nutrition. Monitors high nutrition risk patients to determine whether or not the patient would benefit from nutrition support therapy (tube feeding or TPN)
- Participates in the department’s Clinical Nutrition Quality Assurance Program and provides input into study topics
- Assists in National Nutrition Month projects as requested
- Participates in departmental and hospital wide mandatory in-services and meets the mandatory annual in-service requirements in utilities management, infection control, safety and blood-borne pathogens
- Participates in patient care plan meetings, patient rounds as requested or deemed necessary, and participates in Oroville Hospital committee meetings if assigned to a committee
- Performs other duties as assigned