Clinical Dietitian, PRN

University of Utah Health•South Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian works with departmental and interdisciplinary health care teams to provide patient-centered care aligned with medical goals. The role assesses patients’ nutritional status, identifies nutrition concerns, and develops, implements, and evaluates nutrition care plans for patients at nutritional risk. It may involve providing nutritional support to specialized populations, administering medications within the employee’s scope of practice and applicable state law, and covering outpatient oncology at Huntsman Cancer Institute. This is a PRN, as-needed position with a variable schedule and no benefits.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Current license to practice as a Certified Dietitian in Utah; additional licenses may be required by the hiring department.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the role and provide care to the population served.
Knowledge of life-span growth and development.
Ability to assess patient-status data and provide care in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
Computer literacy, including word processing, nutrient analysis, and spreadsheet software.
Effective human relations and communication skills, including the ability to educate people with varying levels of education and understanding.
Knowledge of nutrition-related order entry, including ordering relevant laboratory values, swallowing evaluations, and ancillary-service consultations aligned with the nutrition care plan.
Service excellence in patient- and family-centered care, including respect, honesty, fairness, and a positive attitude.
Accountability for complying with HIPAA rules governing use and disclosure of protected health information.
Advanced knowledge of human physiology, biochemistry, metabolism, clinical nutrition status, food chemistry, nutrient composition, and dietary analysis.
Knowledge of applicable CMS Conditions of Participation and/or Conditions of Coverage for Medicare and Medicaid payment.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements with or without accommodation, including light work and moving objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Two years of clinical or practical experience.
Oncology experience.
Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) training.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive nutritional assessments by collecting, recording, and interpreting information from patients, families, caregivers, and other sources.
Organize assessment data, identify nutrition diagnoses, and determine when consultation or referral to another provider is appropriate.
Develop and prioritize nutrition interventions using evidence-based guidelines, and evaluate their effectiveness.
Define the timing and frequency of care and modify care plans as needed.
Monitor nutrition outcomes using relevant indicators and compare results with intervention goals.
Work with health care providers, patients, and caregivers to implement and communicate nutrition care plans and expected outcomes.
Provide nutrition counseling and education to patients, families, caregivers, and the community.
Ensure compliance with state and local health, safety, and quality certification standards.
Conduct educational presentations and in-services for hospital and department staff, and oversee development and revision of patient education materials, clinical forms, and protocols.
Serve as an advocate, resource, and liaison to nursing and medical staff to support patient nutrition care, education, and research.
Participate in outcome-measure initiatives and create reports to assess nutrition program performance.
Maintain accurate records of daily clinical activities, including scheduling and billing information.
Participate in departmental and interdisciplinary meetings, task forces, and projects.
Create and maintain training programs and train nutrition and dietetics interns and other health care students in the specialty area.
May manage total parenteral nutrition macronutrient calculations for specialized populations.
May conduct or collaborate in nutrition research.
May enter nutrition-related orders under the University of Utah Registered Dietitian Order Writing Protocol.