Clinical Dietitian I

St. Luke's Hospital - The Woodlands•The Woodlands, TX

5d•$29 - $44

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian provides expert nutrition care by developing and implementing individualized plans to improve patient health outcomes. The role communicates nutritional data across systems and participates in health team meetings as the resident nutrition expert. It applies clinical expertise and empathetic, evidence-based care while adhering to professional standards and communicating effectively with patients and healthcare teams. The dietitian performs nutritional assessments using age- and gender-appropriate standards, considering cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds and using validated assessment tools to identify nutrition-related diagnoses when indicated. The role screens patients for nutritional risk, collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, and contributes to identifying patients who may need higher levels of care. The position implements targeted nutrition interventions, provides customized nutrition education to patients, families, and caregivers, and monitors, evaluates, and rescreens patients’ nutrition status as appropriate. It updates and follows up on care plans as needed. The dietitian develops intervention plans that specify appropriate feeding route, mode, and nutrition prescription in accordance with physician orders, then evaluates patient responses against measurable goals documented in the medical record. The role collaborates with Food and Nutrition Services to enhance the patient experience, including participating in test trays and menu reviews, auditing trayline accuracy against diet orders, validating menu compliance with facility nutrition manuals, supporting patient-interactive positions, communicating with patients, staff, and guests, and providing customer service. The dietitian also participates in peer reviews and chart audits and contributes to Diet Manual Handbook training for clinical staff.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and completion of an accredited dietetics program (ACEND), required upon hire.
Registered Dietitian credential (listed as Registered Dietician, Registered Dietitian ADA, Registered Dietitian AND, or Registered Dietitian CDR), required within 90 days.
Texas Dietitian license, required within 90 days.

Responsibilities

Perform nutritional assessments using age- and gender-appropriate standards, taking cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds into account and using validated assessment tools.
Conduct routine screening to identify patients at nutritional risk.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to facilitate care and identify patients at nutrition risk or in need of higher levels of care.
Implement targeted and specific nutrition interventions.
Provide customized nutrition education to patients, families, and caregivers.
Monitor, evaluate, and rescreen patient nutrition status as appropriate; update plans of care and follow up with patients as needed.
Develop intervention plans that include an appropriate feeding route, mode, and nutrition prescription in accordance with physician orders and the patient’s needs.
Evaluate patient responses to interventions against measurable goals and document the nutrition care plan in the medical record in a timely and thorough manner.
Collaborate with Food and Nutrition Services to improve the patient experience, including participating in test trays and menu reviews.
Periodically audit trayline accuracy against diet orders and validate menu compliance with the facility Diet Manual Handbook and Nutrition Care Manual.
Support patient-interactive positions, maintain communication with patients, staff, and guests, and provide excellent customer service.
Participate in peer reviews and chart audits.
Collaborate on Diet Manual Handbook training for clinical staff, including instruction on accessing hard-copy and electronic versions.
Communicate nutritional data across systems and participate in health team meetings as the nutrition expert.