Clinical Dietitian II

Dominican Hospital•Live Oak, CA

3d•$52 - $60•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian II provides expert nutrition care by developing and implementing individualized plans to improve patient health outcomes. The role communicates nutritional data across systems, participates in healthcare team meetings as the nutrition expert, and delivers empathetic, evidence-based care in accordance with professional standards. The dietitian screens and assesses patients for nutritional risk using specialized clinical guidelines, age- and gender-appropriate standards, consideration of cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, and validated assessment tools. The role identifies nutrition-related diagnoses when indicated and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to facilitate care and determine when patients may need a higher level of care. The dietitian implements targeted interventions, provides customized nutrition education to patients, families, and caregivers, and monitors and reassesses nutrition status. The role develops individualized intervention plans, including feeding route, mode, and nutrition prescriptions in accordance with physician orders, then evaluates responses against measurable goals and documents care in the medical record. For neonates and pediatric patients in California, the dietitian coordinates services with California Children’s Services (CCS) and must be a CCS-paneled provider when providing nutrition care to NICU or pediatric patients at a CCS-approved facility. The role collaborates with Food and Nutrition Services to support patient experience, including test trays, menu reviews, trayline audits, diet-order accuracy, menu compliance, patient-facing support, and customer service. The dietitian participates in peer reviews and chart audits, helps train clinical staff on the Diet Manual Handbook, and supports the training and development of Clinical Dietitian I staff and other patient-interactive roles. This may include leading Medical Nutrition Therapy training sessions and workshops for hospital clinical staff. The position routinely serves high-acuity patients and requires advanced competency in areas including neonatal intensive care, pediatrics, enteral and parenteral nutrition support, order-writing privileges, oncology, renal care, diabetes, and gerontology.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and completion of an ACEND-accredited dietetics program.
Three years of acute-care hospital or similar experience working with patients in more complex levels of care and specialized populations.
Registered Dietitian credential through ADA, AND, or CDR, as specified in the posting.
CCS paneled provider status if providing nutrition care to NICU or pediatric patients at a CCS-approved facility in California.

Nice To Haves

Board certification in oncology nutrition.
Board certification in pediatrics.
Certified Nutrition Support Clinician or board certification in nutrition support.
Certified Diabetes Educator.
Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant.

Responsibilities

Screen patients for nutritional risk in accordance with specialized clinical guidelines and conduct routine screening.
Perform nutrition assessments using appropriate clinical standards, validated assessment tools, and consideration of patients’ cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds; identify nutrition-related diagnoses when indicated.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to facilitate care and identify patients at nutrition risk or in need of higher levels of care.
Implement targeted nutrition interventions and provide customized nutrition education to patients, families, and caregivers.
Monitor, evaluate, and rescreen patients’ nutrition status; update plans of care and follow up as needed.
Develop individualized intervention plans, including feeding route, mode, and nutrition prescription, in accordance with physician orders.
Evaluate patient response to interventions against measurable goals and document care in the medical record in a timely and thorough manner.
For applicable California neonate and pediatric patients, coordinate nutrition services with California Children’s Services (CCS); maintain CCS paneling when providing care to NICU or pediatric patients at a CCS-approved facility.
Collaborate with Food and Nutrition Services on test trays, menu reviews, trayline audits, diet-order accuracy, menu compliance, patient-interactive support, and customer service.
Participate in peer reviews and chart audits.
Help train clinical staff on the Diet Manual Handbook, including how to access hard and electronic copies.
Support the training and development of Clinical Dietitian I staff and other patient-interactive positions; lead MNT training sessions and workshops as needed.
Provide expert nutrition therapy to high-acuity patients in areas including NICU, pediatrics, enteral/parenteral nutrition support, oncology, renal care, diabetes, and gerontology.