Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Nutrition Therapy

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Nutrition Therapy (APRN) provides comprehensive, evidence-based primary care and focused nutrition education to patients . Assesses, diagnoses, treats, and monitors acute and chronic conditions within the APRN’s education, certification, privileges, organizational protocols, and applicable law. Uses culturally responsive education, shared decision-making, and referrals to help patients improve nutrition-related health outcomes and overcome rural barriers to care.

Adheres to Corporate Compliance program, by reporting improper or unethical conduct, violation of applicable laws, regulations or program requirements.

• Provides direct nursing to patients through therapeutic and preventative health care with the support and/or supervision of the physician by established protocols (supervisory provider does not need to be on premise, but be available for consult).
• Performs basic physical assessments; requests or performs needed laboratory tests, special screenings (i.e., pregnancy tests, pap smears, ultrasound) and interpret results; manages problems or illness according to established protocols or refers to physician.
• Assesses nutrition-related health risks using relevant history, medications, laboratory results, vital signs, weight trends, body mass index, dietary patterns, health literacy, culture, readiness to change, and social drivers of health.
• Identifies patients who may benefit from focused nutrition education, including those with diabetes or prediabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal conditions, or other nutrition-sensitive conditions.
• Develops and documents individualized care plans that address nutrition, physical activity, medications, monitoring, follow-up intervals, and measurable clinical and patient-reported goals.
• Provides evidence-based nutrition education within the APRN’s scope of practice and competencies, translating clinical recommendations into practical, affordable, and culturally appropriate actions.
• Screens for food insecurity and other barriers common in rural communities, including transportation limitations, limited access to healthy foods, financial constraints, digital access, and limited specialty services; connects patients with appropriate community resources.
• Provides patient-centered primary care, including health histories, physical examinations, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and preventive services, in accordance with approved privileges, organizational policies, and applicable law. Orders, performs, and interprets appropriate diagnostic tests and screenings; develops treatment plans and consults with or refers to a physician or other specialist when indicated. Orders and interprets diagnostic tests and procedures such as urinalysis, blood counts, x-rays, smears and cultures, EKGs, ultrasound, fetal monitoring, etc.
• Recognizes conditions requiring specialized nutrition care and refers to a registered dietitian nutritionist/licensed dietitian-nutritionist or other qualified clinician as appropriate, including suspected eating disorders, malnutrition, complex renal disease, nutrition support needs, or conditions outside the APRN’s competence or scope.
• Responsible for reporting and following up on all communicable diseases, identified per Florida and CDC guidelines.
• Tracks and contributes to Rural Health Project and other performance measures, as applicable, quality-improvement activities, and required reports, including nutrition-related clinical outcomes and patient engagement measures.
• Provides patient and family education across the continuum of care using plain-language…