Clinical Dietitian - Kennestone

Wellstar Health System•Marietta, GA

About The Position

The Clinical Dietitian practices as a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and provides medical nutrition therapy across the continuum of care. The role assesses patients identified as being at nutrition risk, calculates age- and disease-specific nutrient requirements, performs nutrition-focused physical exams when indicated, develops nutrition diagnoses and care plans, and monitors the effectiveness and outcomes of interventions. The dietitian educates patients, families, and healthcare team members about nutrition interventions, including specialized diets, supplements, food selections, eating behaviors, and community resources. The position also manages nutrition care services at the assigned site, participates in performance improvement and research activities, mentors dietetic interns and diet technicians, and maintains professional development and competencies. The dietitian collaborates with patients, families, and the healthcare team to identify nutrition and education needs, establish goals, and deliver evidence-based care in accordance with organizational policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include documenting patient encounters, managing enteral nutrition support under medical staff supervision, developing transitional feeding plans, participating in multidisciplinary rounds and quality initiatives, and sharing relevant research and clinical knowledge with colleagues and trainees.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in nutrition or dietetics.
Completion of a supervised practice didactic program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD/RDN) credential through the Commission on Dietetic Registration within six months of hire.
Georgia Licensed Dietitian (LD) credential within six months of hire.
Experience with electronic medical record charting systems and other software related to foodservice systems.
Excellent interpersonal, customer service, verbal, and written communication skills.
Knowledge of clinical nutrition best practices and the dietetics profession.
Knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process and its use in complex clinical cases.
Ability to think critically and apply nutrition interventions for patients with multiple comorbidities or special needs, including enteral nutrition management.
Ability to maintain effective relationships with healthcare professionals and share nutrition knowledge and expertise.
Ability to provide care with patient interests and health in mind.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of clinical experience is highly preferred.
AHA-BLS certification is preferred.
Knowledge of malnutrition assessment, including performing nutrition-focused physical exams, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ nutrition and education needs in collaboration with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
Establish care goals and develop, implement, and maintain nutrition care plans based on identified needs.
Use the Nutrition Care Process and Wellstar policies to screen, assess, diagnose, intervene, and monitor/evaluate patients at nutrition risk.
Calculate nutrient requirements based on patients’ ages and disease-specific needs, and perform nutrition-focused physical exams when appropriate.
Provide evidence-based medical nutrition therapy and evaluate its effectiveness and patient outcomes.
Document patient encounters and relevant communications in the healthcare record according to hospital and department policies.
Identify, monitor, and evaluate enteral nutrition support regimens and manage enteral nutrition support under medical staff supervision.
Develop and implement transitional feeding plans.
Assess patients’ learning needs, barriers, preferred learning styles, and educational levels, and provide appropriate nutrition education.
Use community resources across the continuum of care to support positive patient outcomes.
Participate in multidisciplinary rounds, committees, team huddles, performance improvement, research, and quality improvement activities.
Locate, review, apply, and share research and best-practice findings with healthcare team members, dietetic interns, patients, and families.
Complete assigned peer chart audits, review findings with the nutrition leader, maintain productivity logs, and evaluate service quality and outcomes.
Mentor dietetic interns and diet technicians and share nutrition knowledge and expertise.
Conduct yearly self-assessments, identify professional development needs, document professional development activities, and pursue continued learning.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with Wellstar policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.