Clinical Dietitian Casual

Grande Ronde Hospital•La Grande, OR

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian is responsible for assessing, planning, and implementing nutritional care for patients across inpatient and outpatient settings. This role provides individualized medical nutrition therapy and patient/family education to support the prevention and management of disease, optimize patient outcomes, and promote overall health. The Dietitian collaborates with providers, nurses, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team to ensure nutritional interventions align with clinical goals and patient preferences. Additional responsibilities include monitoring patient progress, documenting care in the medical record, participating in quality improvement initiatives, and contributing to nutrition education for patients, families, and staff in accordance with hospital policies and regulatory standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, or a related field from an accredited program required.
Completion of a supervised Dietetic Internship (DI) or coordinated program required.
Current Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential required.
Current Oregon Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) license without restriction required.
Knowledge in both inpatient and outpatient diet protocols, including modified, restricted, and specialized diets.
Knowledge of medical nutrition therapy with the ability to provide therapeutic nutrition interventions for a variety of acute or chronic conditions.
Ability to work collaborate and work effectively with providers, nurses, and interdisciplinary teams to integrate nutrition into patient care.
Ability to evaluate patient medical history, lab results, and dietary habits to develop individualized nutrition care plans.
Ability to analyze information and think critically, interpreting lab results and clinical data to guide nutrition interventions.
Ability to prioritize patient care needs, manage caseloads, and meet deadlines in a fast paced hospital environment.
Skilled in communication to educate patients and families about nutrition, lifestyle changes, and diet adherence.
Skilled in documentation and record keeping, charting nutrition care, progress notes, and compliance with hospital and regulatory standards.
Committed to professional development, staying current with evidence-based practices and clinical nutrition research.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in a clinical or hospital setting preferred.
Specialty certification from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or for diabetics management (CDCES), nutrition support (CNSC), or advanced practice in clinical nutrition (RD-AP/RDN-AP) preferred.
ServSafe certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts comprehensive nutritional assessments by reviewing patient medical history, laboratory results, medications, and dietary habits to identify nutritional risks and needs.
Analyzes and interprets laboratory and clinical data (e.g., blood glucose, electrolytes, lipid panels) to guide individualized dietary recommendations and interventions.
Develops individualized nutrition care plans that align with patient conditions, clinical diagnoses, and therapeutic diet requirements to support optimal health outcomes.
Provides medical nutrition therapy for both inpatient and outpatient populations to manage acute and chronic conditions such as diabetes, renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Collaborates with the interdisciplinary care team, including providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, to integrate nutrition strategies into overall patient care plans.
Coordinates with nursing and dietary staff to ensure timely, accurate meal delivery in alignment with prescribed diets, including modified or specialized therapeutic diets.
Monitors and documents patient progress in the electronic medical record (EMR), updating care plans as needed and ensuring continuity of care.
Educates patients and families on nutrition, lifestyle modifications, and therapeutic diets, promoting understanding, adherence, and long-term health outcomes.
Collaborates with the Food Services Manager to develop and review patient menus, ensuring meals meet therapeutic, nutritional, and hospital dietary guidelines while supporting patient health and satisfaction.
Ensures compliance with hospital policies, state and federal regulations, and accreditation standards related to nutrition services, patient safety, and documentation.
Participates in quality improvement initiatives by reviewing patient outcomes, identifying gaps in nutrition care, and recommending process improvements to enhance service delivery.
Supports departmental education and mentoring, providing guidance to dietetic interns, new staff, and other healthcare professionals on best practices and clinical nutrition protocols.