JOB SUMMARY

The Clinical Registered Dietitian I plans, directs, and provides nutritional care to patients. Screens and assesses all assigned patients for malnutrition, including patients on nutrition support. Provides diet therapy and nutritional counseling, educates and counsels patients, families, and/or significant others. Participates in interdisciplinary committees and nutrition department projects.

Clinical Registered Dietitian I is a task-based position, without higher level responsibilities in the department. A significant portion of the role is spent with low-medium acuity patients.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Demonstrates a service orientation and commitment to the mission of Swedish Hospital Part of NorthShore and adheres to all responsibilities and standards of the organization.

Oversees the delivery of nutrition care to assigned patients.

Identifies patients that are at malnutrition risk; performs nutrition assessments based on pertinent medical, laboratory and patient interview data, provides diet therapy and counseling, performs Nutrition Focused Physical Examination, participates in Enteral Nutrition Support Team for dobhoff tube placement and Metabolic Monitoring Team.

Electronically documents all aspects of nutrition care.

Plans, implements, and evaluates enteral nutrition prescriptions specific to individual patient nutrition and metabolic requirements; works with Parenteral Nutrition Support Team to coordinate care for assigned patients requiring parenteral nutrition.

Makes recommendations regarding optimal delivery of nutrition care.

Complies with physician's diet orders. Calculates therapeutic diets whenever necessary to meet nutritional needs of patients on modified diets.

Serves as liaison between nursing and Patient Food Services.

Instructs patients or patient's family on modified diets.

Attends special meetings and rounds as assigned.

Assists with quality improvement audits and projects.

Participates in orientation and training of new staff and precepts Dietetic Interns.

Participates in continuing education programs and assists with in-service training programs.

Identifies potential food drug interactions according to system policy and provides education based on identified need.

ADVANCEMENT

Movement from Clinical Registered Dietitian I to Clinical Registered Dietitian II requires the following:

• At least 1 year of experience as a Clinical Registered Dietitian
• Serving as presenter for at least one departmental Journal Club
• Participation in a department-based quality or research project
• Meet expectations at 1year evaluation with manager

PATIENT CARE/AGE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Independently anticipates and always responds appropriately to the age related patients' psychosocial and physical needs. Independently obtains and integrates clinical information in terms of age and developmental needs of patients and responds appropriately.

ACCESS TO PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

• Name, Demographic, Financial, and Clinical
• Computer system access is assigned based on manager's access level request and on the minimum necessary as described in this job description. Approval for level of access is given by the system administrator or manager of the department that has ownership of system/module. See Computer System Access Controls Policy.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONTACTS

• Food service employees
• Interdisciplinary medical team
• Patients and families
• Ancillary department employees
• Administrative staff and other employees