Advanced Clinical Nutrition Technician - Inpatient - Eating Disorders Unit

Sanford Health•Fargo, ND

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position facilitates the nutrition care process and provides patients with optimal medical nutrition therapy. Upon graduation, the incumbent becomes RD eligible and may advance to the role of Clinical Dietitian. The role involves performing nutrition screening, gathering and analyzing nutrition data, providing inpatient nutrition care, coordinating and following up on nutrition interventions, and assisting patients with food selections. It also requires recognizing and providing for nutritional needs based on cultural, ethnic, and religious beliefs, serving as a liaison to clinical Dietitians, and communicating patient needs and concerns. The technician will work with food services to manage diet compliances, special needs, allergies, and textures/consistencies, and will enter information into diet office software and electronic patient records. Additional duties include analyzing food intake for calorie counts, reinforcing nutrition education, and promoting nutrition programs in community settings.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in dietetics or food and nutrition through an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited program.
Knowledge of the nutrient value of foods, normal and therapeutic nutrition, menu writing, recipe analysis, intake analysis, and the ability to use computerized nutrition systems to comply with diet parameters.
Proficient computer skills.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Candidates currently enrolled in an ACEND program to obtain a Master’s degree to become a Registered Dietitian are preferred.
Previous experience in a clinical nutrition or hospital food service is desirable.

Responsibilities

Facilitates the nutrition care process and provides patients with optimal medical nutrition therapy.
Performs nutrition screening and completes nutrition data gathering and analysis appropriate to the level of care.
Provides inpatient nutrition care appropriate for the caregiver's experience and level of expertise.
Helps to coordinate and follow-up on nutrition interventions as planned by Dietitian during the hospital stay and upon discharge from the hospital.
Assists patients in making appropriate selections of foods to meet therapeutic intake guidelines.
Ability to recognize, evaluate, and provide for nutritional needs based on cultural, ethnic, and religious beliefs.
Serves as a liaison to clinical Dietitians.
Communicates relevant facts and escalates patient needs and concerns with assigned clinical Dietitians.
Works with food services to run reports and coordinate diet compliances, special needs related to diet parameters, allergies, and textures/consistencies.
Enters menus, compliances, and other information into diet office software.
Enters data, information, and documentation appropriate to level of expertise and competency into electronic patient record.
Analysis of food intake by patients for calorie counts.
Reinforces initial nutrition education provided by dietitian for individuals and/or groups as assigned.
Within the community settings, promotes nutrition programs to people of all ages.
Other duties as assigned.