Dietetic Technician

Tohono O'odham Nation Healthcare • Sells, AZ

36d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dietetic Technician performs specialized paraprofessional clinical duties in the Nutrition and Dietetic Services Department at Tohono O'odham Nation Health Care (TONHC), Sells Hospital. The position conducts nutrition screenings and interviews, collects and reviews nutrition-related patient information, assists with clinical nutrition care, documents care plans, provides nutrition education, and coordinates patient food preferences and dietary needs with foodservice staff. The role also contributes to community nutrition events, department reporting, and foodservice operations.

The position works independently on nutrition interviews and screenings, documentation, and guidance for patients, under the direction of the Supervisory Dietitian, who assigns work and spot-checks completed tasks. The position may require temporary relocation to other TONHC facilities, including Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, Casa Grande, and San Xavier Health Center.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or a closely related field.
• One year of specialized work experience equivalent to a Dietetic Technician in a hospital-based or closely related environment.
• Knowledge of Native American tribal and cultural subgroup eating and dietary habits, and ability to counsel using culturally acceptable foods.
• Knowledge of disease processes, nutrition care for hospitalized patients, food and nutrition principles, hospital foodservice operations, and medical and clinical nutrition terminology.
• Familiarity with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Nutrition Care Manual and therapeutic diets.
• Ability to review medical records for nutrition data, calculate nutrient intake using department software, interview patients or family members, take preliminary diet histories, assess nutrition status, and develop care plans for patients at moderate risk or below.
• Ability to provide basic nutrition education, document care plans in medical records, and translate diet orders into appropriate therapeutic meals.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate with interdisciplinary healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, and dietitians.
• Ability to follow food safety and sanitation standards and successfully pass the ServSafe class and exam.
• Ability to apply national guidelines for nutritional needs across the life spectrum and provide group nutrition education or participate in community events.
• Basic computer skills to complete electronic food and supply ordering.
• Upon recommendation for hire, must undergo a criminal background check, National FBI fingerprint check, and 39-month driving record review.
• May be required to possess and maintain a valid driver's license, with no DUIs or major traffic citations within the past three years; if required to operate program vehicles, must meet the Nation's insurance requirements for a driver's permit.
• May be required, based on department needs, to demonstrate fluency in both Tohono O'odham and English.

Responsibilities

• Screen hospitalized patients for nutrition risk, identify patients at high risk, and refer them to the dietitian as appropriate.
• Interview patients to obtain food preferences, diet history, and related information, and document findings in the nutrition care plan and medical record.
• Assist with clinical nutrition care, including monitoring the nutritional status of NPO patients and educating patients at low or moderate nutrition risk.
• Counsel patients on uncomplicated disease conditions and adapt diets to cultural and personal preferences.
• Ensure regular and therapeutic diets are entered correctly based on diet orders, food preferences, and information gathered from patient interviews.
• Interpret diet orders using approved references and modify tray-card menus to comply with orders while accommodating preferences and cultural traditions.
• Coordinate patient foodservice needs with foodservice staff and provide technical expertise on complicated diet orders and patient nutrition needs.
• Develop nutrition education topics and materials, using accurate, science-based information.
• Participate in daily interdisciplinary team rounds and department or general staff meetings as appropriate.
• Observe trayline meal service weekly, document concerns, and submit observations to the Supervisory Dietitian.
• Participate in community outreach events with a nutrition component, such as health fairs and family wellness events.
• Assist with trayline checks, cafeteria transactions, cash collection, sales logs, and balancing and submitting daily cash sales records.
• Compile food and supply orders when the Cook Supervisor is unavailable and assist with ordering from the primary vendor as needed.
• Contribute data and information to quarterly department reports on inpatient screenings, education, documentation, and quality improvement projects.
• Provide nutrition-related in-services for department staff as assigned.
• Perform general office and other job-related duties that support daily department operations and contribute to team efforts.

What This Job Offers

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