Clinical Dietitian Pediatrics

SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Senior Clinical Dietitians Specialists and the Clinical Nutrition Director/Supervisor and in accordance with established policies, procedures, and departmental standards of practice, provides nutritional care to hospital patients throughout Brown University Health. Interviews patients and/or family members and reviews electronic health records in order to assess nutritional needs and develop nutrition plans of care. Monitors and evaluates indicators and outcomes data directly related to the nutrition diagnosis, goals, preferences, and intervention strategies to determine the progress made in achieving desired results of nutrition care and whether planned interventions should be continued or revised.

Documents patient progress and updates nutritional plan as necessary in the electronic health record. Directs the activities of support personnel in assigned work area, as needed. Brown University Health employees are expected to embrace Brown University Health's mission of Delivering health with care and successfully role model Brown University Health's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include:
Instill Trust and Value Differences;
Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate; RESPONSIBILITIES.

• Uses accurate and relevant data and information to identify nutrition related problems. Assesses current and past information related to personal, medical, family, and psychosocial/social history.
• Assesses anthropometric indicators (e.g. height, weight, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference), comparison to reference data (e.g. percentile ranks/z-scores) and individual patterns and history.
• Assesses laboratory profiles (e.g. acid-base balance, renal function, endocrine function, inflammatory response, vitamin/mineral profile, lipid profile), medical tests and procedures (e.g. gastrointestinal study, metabolic rate).
• Obtains, assesses and reassesses findings from the Nutrition-focused physical examination (NFPE) (e.g. indicators of vitamin, mineral deficiency/toxicity, edema, muscle wasting, subcutaneous fat loss, altered body composition, malnutrition, pressure injuries, oral health, feeding ability, appetite, and affect).
• Obtains food and nutrition related history including food and nutrient intake, food and nutrient administration, medication and diet supplement use, knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes (e.g. understanding of nutrition related concepts, emotions about food and/or weight, readiness to change nutrition or health related behaviors, and activities and actions influencing achievement of nutrition related goals), and food security.
• Uses reference data and standards to estimate nutrient needs and recommended body weight, BMI, and desired growth patterns.
• Collects data and reviews data collected and/or documented by the dietetic technician and other health care practitioners, patients, or staff for factors that affect nutrition and health status.
• Uses collected data to identify possible problem areas for determining nutrition diagnosis. Re-evaluates and revises nutrition diagnosis(es) per department standards of care. Bases intervention/plan of care on best available research/evidence and information, evidence based guidelines, and best practices.
• Documents patients' nutritional care plans on the Interdisciplinary Plan of Care in addition to routine documentation in patients' electronic health records and regularly monitors patients' nutritional status updating the Plan of Care per departmental standards of care.
• Participates in the discharge planning process, evaluating the patient's condition from a nutritional perspective and recommending programs, procedures, etc., which will enhance the patient's readiness for discharge.
• Conducts individual and group patient nutrition education both inpatient and outpatient, preparing the patient and his/her family for…