Clinical Dietitian II

UNC Health•Chapel Hill, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian II works closely with a multidisciplinary healthcare team to coordinate evidence-based medical nutrition therapy that supports patient-focused medical goals. The role applies the Nutrition Care Process, including nutrition-focused physical exams, nutrition and malnutrition assessments, nutrition diagnoses, interventions, and monitoring and evaluation of patient progress. It uses practice-specific dietetics and, when available, evidence-based protocols and nutrition practice guidelines to determine interventions. The position requires extensive clinical-practice knowledge demonstrated through experience and/or specialty certification. The dietitian manages resources cost-effectively, participates in compliance and quality-improvement efforts, contributes nutrition expertise to the care team, attends team conferences, provides nutrition-related in-services, and contributes to developing and revising policies. The role may also involve community-based nutrition programs. It maintains professional competency, precepts interns, and supports, models, and trains clinical dietitians in departmental and organizational responsibilities. This dietitian is embedded in two primary care clinics in Chatham County and may work virtually from home up to two days per week. The position is hybrid, full-time, and scheduled as a day job for 40 hours per week.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a US regionally accredited university or college, with coursework accredited or approved by ACEND.
For new graduates becoming licensed after January 1, 2024, a master’s degree in a related dietitian field.
Completion of an ACEND-accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics or Dietetic Internship of at least 900 hours (1,200 hours for graduates of programs beginning in 2012).
Registered Dietitian credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist credential from the North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition; certain positions may allow licensure within one month of hire.
Three years as an RD, including two years in the clinical specialty area; or three years of nutrition experience in a tertiary-care teaching hospital with specialty certification; or five years of experience as an RD.
If the candidate has fewer than five years of experience, certification in the clinical specialty area, an advanced degree, or approval to practice in a specialized role where certification does not exist is required. Certain positions may allow specialty certification within six months of hire or by the next offered exam date when the candidate has completed the required educational preparation.
Maintain applicable specialty certification until reaching at least five years of experience as an RD, or longer when required for certain positions.
Some positions may require provider credentialing for billing purposes, such as NPI, Medicare/Medicaid Provider, or BCBSNC Provider, within one month of hire.
Some positions may require maintenance of certification, such as CDCES, for billing purposes.
Knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process and ability to apply all its steps.
Comprehensive knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy.
Ability to understand and implement Motivational Interviewing.
Critical-thinking ability to integrate facts, informed opinion, active listening, and observations.
Decision-making, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with patients, the public, hospital and medical staff, and physicians.
Ability to function independently on assigned patient-care units and to counsel and educate others.
General knowledge of nutrient-analysis, word-processing, and spreadsheet software.

Responsibilities

Assess nutritional needs using standardized practice and critical thinking, and identify nutrient requirements according to age, disease, and individual patient needs.
Demonstrate clinical and age-specific competency through applicable competency tools, chart audits, tests, and observation.
Serve as a resource for the assigned clinical team and as a liaison between medical specialties and ancillary services.
Assist with compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, HFAP, and other applicable accreditation standards, supporting safety, quality of care, and organizational performance improvement.
Attend medical rounds, patient care conferences, and continuing education and staff meetings; participate in quality-improvement initiatives and cross-training.
Develop, implement, and monitor nutrition care plans; participate in discharge planning; and provide education using established behavioral-change techniques.
Document all aspects of nutrition care in the medical record and complete clinical nutrition workloads in a timely manner to meet regulatory standards.
May lead, direct, and manage work assigned to others within the department.
Create or update evidence-based protocols in the clinical practice area and train others to ensure medical nutrition therapy practices are current and meet guidelines.
Identify professional development needs and mentor others in the clinical practice area.
Precept clinical nutrition interns throughout the year as assigned.
Participate in clinical research, on-the-job training, and quality-improvement projects related to the clinical practice area.
Lead efforts to understand and measure practice quality across structures, processes, content, and outcomes; design and test interventions to improve quality outcomes; and serve on cross-functional quality teams.