Dietetic Technician

Brown Medicine • Madison, WI

3d • $18 - $30 • Onsite

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Bradley Hospital Senior Dietitian or Supervisor, Clinical Nutrition, the Dietetic Technician supports Registered Dietitians by collecting information, reporting observations, and communicating with patients, families, and caregivers. The role gathers food allergy and preference information, adjusts meal selections to accommodate preferences and prescribed diets, monitors menu selections for compliance, and maintains data in the computerized menu management system.

The technician conducts meal rounds to assess food consumption and patient satisfaction, provides basic nutrition education and meal-planning guidance, and reports observations to Clinical Dietitians to support documentation and adjustments to nutrition care plans. The role also assists with nutrition education activities and classes, unit projects, hospital bulletin boards, informal meal coaching, and assigned nutrition interventions.

The position works with pediatric patients admitted for psychiatric diagnoses and/or autism and developmental disabilities, as well as families, care partners, hospital staff, and food service operations. It provides functional guidance to junior staff as required. Work is scheduled across weekday and weekend shifts, with eight daily hours.

Requirements

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a US regionally accredited college or university, or foreign equivalent, and completion of an ACEND Didactic Program in Dietetics; alternatively, completion of all ACEND-required nutrition classes in a four-year ACEND Didactic Program, with advanced culinary internship pending and anticipated baccalaureate completion within six months.
• Thorough understanding of applying nutrition principles to human physiology and disease states, and thorough knowledge of nutritional values of foods and food groups.
• Analytical ability to identify overt and potential nutritional problems and refer them to Clinical Dietitian staff as indicated.
• Oral and written communication skills to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital personnel about dietetic care plans.
• Leadership skills to coordinate and evaluate dietetic technician work-group activities effectively.
• Knowledge, skills, and compassion to care for pediatric patients while considering psychiatric diagnoses, developmental disabilities, and cultural patterns throughout the care process.
• Basic computer skills and ability to use CBORD, LifeChart, other software databases, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and iRounds; non-Microsoft computer training is provided on the job.
• Knowledge and skills to provide care while considering aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns throughout the care process.
• Prior experience in a nursing home or hospital.
• Ability to work the stated weekday and weekend schedule.

Nice To Haves

• Food and nutrition experience and hospital electronic health record experience are desirable.
• Experience with pediatric and/or psychiatric patients is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Carry out duties compassionately and sensitively, considering the needs of pediatric patients with psychiatric diagnoses and/or autism and developmental disabilities.
• Work independently while maintaining communication with Clinical Dietitians, nursing, interdisciplinary team members, and food service operations staff.
• Update the allergen/specialty diet list and cook’s list daily to reflect current diet orders and nutrition plans, and communicate changes to the kitchen.
• Mark allergy trays with a red sticker dot.
• Review allergy and specialty trays as directed by Registered Dietitians before delivery to units, ensure meals are accurate, and communicate special-diet information to unit staff as needed.
• Promptly report product changes and substitutions to the CBORD Specialist.
• Develop and update special-diet menus and meal plans and correct menus for nutritional balance.
• Print menus, tray tickets, reports, and calorie-count worksheets, and update menu selections throughout the shift.
• Monitor patient intake for nutritional adequacy as appropriate and relay information to Registered Dietitians.
• Complete calorie counts and document findings in the electronic health record.
• Conduct daily meal rounds on patient units according to the defined schedule, gather quality-assurance data, and enter it into the meal-rounding database.
• Conduct individual and group patient nutrition education and diet classes; assist with meal observation, informal meal coaching, and troubleshooting meal-service issues.
• Develop a nutrition education topic for bulletin boards bimonthly under Senior Dietitian supervision.
• Assist with patient menu revisions and nutritional analysis.
• Visit patients, family members, and appropriate care partners to obtain diet-related information, answer basic questions about diet prescriptions, and refer questions to the Registered Dietitian as indicated.
• Assist with nutrition-related in-services for departmental and hospital staff and remain visible on patient units at mealtimes to assess food acceptance, identify nutrition problems, and help solve problems.
• Guide and support dietetic intern education and other staff as assigned.
• Complete other duties assigned by Registered Dietitians and/or the Foodservice Management Team.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level