Registered Dietitian - Per Diem

Summary of Position: 

The Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) provides high quality, patient-centered, nutrition care and counseling for individuals with acute, chronic and preventable disease states utilizing established policies and evidence-based procedures to ensure safety and effectiveness. The RD/RDN collaborates with Food Service staff to promote appropriate and efficient use of food and supplements to promote patient/resident health and wellness. The RD/RDN interfaces and collaborates with physicians, employees and the public at committee meetings, interdisciplinary rounds, talks, classes, and health fairs.

Qualifications

Education:

● Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or Dietetics by a US accredited college/university (or foreign equivalent).

● Completion of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) approved Dietetic Internship, Didactic or Coordinated Program in Dietetics.

Experience:

● One or more years of clinical dietitian experience preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

● Knowledge of clinical nutrition and basic food preparation/production.

● Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and meet the individualized nutritional needs of all patients served (including those receiving enteral and parenteral nutrition support).

● Respectful, compassionate, and effective speaking, counseling, writing and listening skills.

● Sufficient computer/computational skills to manage electronic medical records, patient nutritional needs assessments, basic statistics, work calendar, and annual online trainings.

● Knowledge of Epic, Computrition, and PointClickCare computer programs a plus.

● In compliance with patient safety standards, must be able to effectively communicate in English. Bilingual abilities preferred.

Certifications/Licensure:

● Current RD or RDN credential.  Those registration eligible or pending registration examination results, may also apply.

● Current BLS certification by the American Heart Association (BLS for the Healthcare Provider) or ability to obtain prior to start date.

● Maintain RD or RDN credential with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) by meeting their continuing education requirements.  

● Maintain yearly, registration maintenance fee to CDR.

● Additional credentials such as Certified Diabetes Educator, Certified Obesity and Weight Management Certificate, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, ACE or ACSM Personal Trainer, preferred, though not required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

● Prolonged, extensive or considerable standing/walking/sitting.

● Routine reaching, stooping, and bending.

● The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Working Conditions 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

● Routine Hospital/Healthcare & Office/Administrative conditions.

● Contact with patients and guests under a wide variety of circumstances.

● Regularly exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases.

● Exposure to infections and contagious disease.

● Exposed to hazardous anesthetic agents, body fluids and waste.

● Subject to hazards of flammable and explosive gases.

● Subject to varying and unpredictable situations, including the handling of emergency or crisis situations.

● Subject to pressure due to irregular hours, frequent interruptions and stressful situations due to multiple demands.

● Occasional travel to various health system locations. 

Essential Functions

1. Provides consistently exceptional care at all times.

2. Prioritize patient nutritional needs daily and complete nutrition assessments as per policy.

3. Meet with patients/residents and their families/care givers to understand their personal dietary needs and goals.

4. Counsel patients to help them understand their clinical nutrition status, the pros/cons/barriers/opportunities to change, and assist them in setting and achieving meaningful, nutrition-related goals to improve their health and/or wellness.

5. Chart patient assessments and encounters in thorough yet concise, objective, and relevant progress notes in the electronic medical record.

6. Verbalize patient nutrition status, needs and concerns during daily interdisciplinary rounds.

7. Work routinely with Food Service staff to personalize patient/resident meals and snacks/supplements.

8. Collect and summarize data for various continuous improvement projects.

9. Participate regularly in and/or lead Organizational meetings (ie Department, Committee, Taskforce) to improve Barton’s nutritional-related services.

10. Engage annually in one or more special opportunities in the community to teach/speak on varied nutrition-related topics to audiences of all ages.

11. Attend the majority of monthly staff meetings – even if not scheduled to work a full day.

12. Have some flexibility in work schedule to accommodate staffing needs due to vacations or periods of family/personal leave.  

13. Work weekdays, some weekends and some holidays.

14. Responds to the needs of the department by performing other duties, as necessary.