Nutritionist

Performs comprehensive nutrition counseling and health promotion services, including screening, planning, and implementing nutritional care for individuals and groups requiring comprehensive nutrition needs. An employee in this class is responsible for providing comprehensive and in-depth nutrition assessment and counseling, with significant time dealing with patients with chronic medical problems and/or high-risk clients in the WIC Program. Work may include nutrition consultations, health promotion, and educational sessions with other healthcare professionals.

Work is performed in accordance with established guidelines and is evaluated through a work review and an assessment of overall program effectiveness.

Starting pay for a nutritionist I is $43,279 or DOQ.

• Determines medical eligibility of patients for the WIC program using established guidelines.
• Provides nutrition consultation and education sessions to other health care professionals.
• Coordinates County and Worksite health promotion activities.
• Provides lactation education and support for clients who choose to breastfeed.
• Provides nutrition counseling and education to patients in hypertension, diabetic, family planning, pediatric, high-risk obstetrics clinics, and WIC Program.
• Completes nutrition assessments by analyzing data obtained from patient interviews and review of medical history, laboratory and clinical data.
• Develops a care plan based on information collected and knowledge of the clinical application of nutrition.
• Provides diet instruction to patients verbally and with educational aids such as pamphlets and posters.
• Charts in medical record subjective and objective data, assessment, and plan of action.
• Performs related work as required.

• Ability to express ideas and communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees.
• Considerable knowledge of principles of normal and therapeutic nutrition and health promotion.
• Considerable knowledge and skill in nutrition and dietary assessment techniques (anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary), and data interpretation.
• Knowledge of human behavior and techniques for effecting behavior change.
• Ability to write clear and concise entries using the protocol for progress notes in patients' medical records.
• Ability to interview and provide counseling.
• Ability to communicate with patients tactfully, courteously, and effectively.
• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in foods and nutrition dietetics or public health nutrition; or a bachelor's degree in home economics with 12 hours in nutrition coursework with one year of experience in the field of nutrition, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must have a valid N.C. driver license.
• A higher education level may be considered as a substitution for all or part of the experience requirement.

Stanly County is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.