Clinical Dietitian I/II - Pediatrics - Days

VCU Health•Richmond, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian I competently provides and documents age-appropriate medical nutrition therapy to patients as applicable to their practice area. This role involves utilizing the nutrition care process for the provision of medical nutrition therapy, effectively assessing age-specific nutritional and educational needs of routine patients, and developing individualized nutrition plans of care to promote nutrition progress. The dietitian monitors patient response to nutrition care and adjusts plans as indicated. Once competency is determined by the supervisor, the role may involve modifying diets, ordering snacks/supplements, initiating and managing tube feedings, and ordering head circumferences, heights, lengths, and weights. Effective communication with the health care team and food service regarding patient needs is essential. The Clinical Dietitian I cannot independently provide nutrition care to end-stage (dialysis) renal or transplant patients until one year post-registration. After 6 months of employment, the role begins to learn the responsibilities of a clinical preceptor and educator of healthcare professionals, including completing preceptor training and other learning modules. This involves reviewing learning objectives and progress with dietetic interns and students, and effectively communicating with the internship and other divisions to enhance the student learning experience. The position also involves leadership by participating in team data collection to support process changes for nutrition, demonstrating emerging leadership skills through maturity, responding positively to coaching, and promoting critical thinking skills to improve patient care outcomes. For applicable positions, the role may involve research activities such as attending research meetings, completing CITI certification, assisting faculty in developing nutritional aspects of research protocols, maintaining supplies, providing administrative support for research subject coordination, scheduling patients, tracking progress, and complying with research protocols. The role requires working weekends and schedules as assigned by the supervisor, and potentially traveling to satellite clinics. Adherence to the Code of Ethics for the profession of dietetics and accountability for actions and behavior is mandatory. The position requires demonstrating knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit, understanding principles of growth and development, and assessing data reflective of patient status to identify age-specific needs and provide equitable care.

Requirements

Bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition or related field from an accredited college or university.
Must pass the RD exam by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics within 3 months of employment to this position.
Advancement to Clinical Dietitian II is required one year after passing the exam.
Less than one (1) year of experience providing nutrition care in an acute care setting post dietetic internship.
Maintenance of Registered Dietitian status with the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics once obtained.
Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Climbing, Balance, Bending
Sitting, Walking, Standing
Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Acuity – far, Acuity – near
Depth perception, Use of Latex Gloves, Exposure to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents
Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking
Fast pace environment, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

Nice To Haves

Experience with clinical research protocols for applicable positions.
CPR Training for those practicing in the outpatient nutrition clinic.
Experience with clinical research protocols for applicable positions.

Responsibilities

Utilizes the nutrition care process for provision of medical nutrition therapy.
Effectively assesses age specific nutritional and educational needs of routine patients.
Develops individualized nutrition plans of care to promote nutrition progress.
Monitors patient’s response to nutrition care and adjusts plans as indicated.
May modify diets, order snacks/supplements, initiate and manage tube feedings.
May order head circumferences, heights, lengths, weights.
Effectively communicates with the health care team/food service regarding patient needs.
Begins to learn the role of a clinical preceptor and educator of health care professionals after 6 months of employment.
Completes preceptor training via the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and other learning modules.
Reviews learning objectives and progress with the dietetic interns, students, etc.
Effectively communicates with the internship and other divisions, as appropriate, to enhance the student learning experience.
Involved in team data collection that supports the discovery of process change(s) for nutrition, as applicable.
Demonstrates emerging leadership skills through maturity.
Responds positively to coaching and is flexible to changes in workflow.
Promotes critical thinking skills that improves patient care outcomes.
Effectively applies and participates in research as evidenced by attending and actively participating in research meetings.
Completes and maintains Collaborative IRB training Initiative (CITI) certification or other requirements for the ethical conduct of research.
Assists faculty in the development of the nutritional aspects of research protocols, including subject educational materials.
Maintains adequate and current supplies of clinical and research educational materials.
Provides administrative support to promote timely coordination of enrollment, scheduling, and tracking of research subject activities.
Scheduling patients for follow-up appointments and tracking progress through the curriculum to ensure patients adhere to educational requirements outlined in study or clinic protocols.
Complies with relevant research protocols.
Notifies the Principle Investigator or Research Coordinator regarding potential protocol deviations or concerns about research subject safety.
Maintains timely and appropriate documentation in research files.
Assists with informed consent/assent discussions, when appropriate.
Work weekends and schedules as assigned by supervisor.
Travel to satellite clinics (e.g., Stony Point, Hanover, etc.) when needed as determined by supervisor.
Adherence to the Code of Ethics for the profession of dietetics and accountability and responsibility for actions and behavior.
Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit.
Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.