Dietitian

Medical Nutrition Therapist

Collaborate with members of the healthcare team to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy and monitor the effectiveness and outcomes of nutrition interventions. Evaluates the nutritional status of patients utilizing diet recall/history physical appearance oral intake laboratory values and by performing anthropometric measurements. Provide nutrition education to patients and family members. Manage delivery of nutrition care services on assigned units. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures.

Patient care assignment may include neonate pediatric adolescent adult and geriatric age groups.

Detailed responsibilities:

• Perform key functions of nutrition care according to system policy including nutrition screening assessments development of care plans
• Follow-up monitoring/reassessment of patients identified to be at nutrition risk base clinical practice on sound scientific principles current research and theory
• Direct the nutrition care aides in assuring that patients receive nutrition care that meets the nutrition therapy care plan
• Identify monitor and evaluate effectiveness of enteral and parenteral nutrition support regimes
• Provide care according to organization ethics licensure and the Standards of Professional practice for Dietetics professionals
• Assess patient's learning needs and provide nutrition education appropriate to patient's literacy and/or cognitive ability
• Share knowledge and expertise with other health care team members through activities such as participating in patient care rounds in-services to staff participation on assigned committees and teaching classes
• Serve as a preceptor for dietetic interns in applying nutrition knowledge and skills
• Maintain accurate records to meet regulatory agency guidelines and assist in statistical analysis of data
• Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs reading current literature attending in-services meetings and workshops
• Follow patient safety-related policies procedures and protocols
• Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes
• Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk
• Report potential or actual patient safety concerns medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner
• Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations that they don't understand or may "not seem right"
• Locate review and utilize evidence-based best practices to improve patient outcomes

Qualifications:

Education:

• Essential:
  Bachelor's Degree
• Nonessential:
  Master's Degree
• Education specialization:
  
  Essential:
  Related Discipline

Experience:

• Essential: 1/2 year (6 months) directly related experience
• Nonessential: 1 year directly related experience

Credentials:

• Essential:
  Certi w/Cmmsn on Dietetic Registration/eligible if prov NM Dietician License or Provisional Dietitian License CPR for Healthcare/BLS Prov or Prof Rescuers w/in 30 days

Physical Conditions:

Light Work:
Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. May require walking or standing to a significant degree or requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls and/or may require working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of materials is negligible.

Working conditions:

• Essential:
  Minor Hazard - physical risks dirt dust fumes noise
• May perform subordinate tasks in high census/vol
• May be required or is required to perform on-call duties
• May work rotating shifts holidays and weekends
• Tuberculosis testing is completed upon hire and additionally as required