Dietitian

Nexus Health Systems Ltd•Houston, TX

48d

About The Position

The Dietitian oversees patient diets in accordance with physician orders and ensures the nutritional adequacy of patient menus. This role involves conducting nutritional assessments and monitoring per DNV guidelines, as well as providing nutrition education to patients and staff. The Dietitian assesses patient nutritional status, establishes goals within 72 hours of admission, and provides educational in-services to dietary and nursing departments. They communicate regularly with all appropriate disciplines regarding patient care, participate in patient team conferences and appropriate committees, and evaluate/approve patient menus and modified diets. Additionally, the Dietitian instructs patients and families on nutritional needs at home, educates on food/drug interactions, and documents all pertinent information in the patient's medical record. This role also assists in performance improvement, develops and maintains department policies and procedures, operates within the departmental budget, and correlates dietary needs with laboratory findings. Collaboration with physicians on nutritional needs and suggestions is key, as is closely monitoring patient weight to ensure gain or loss goals are achieved. The Dietitian recommends and assists with specific nutritional patient measurements, and provides extra time and problem-solving for children who fail to thrive, are picky eaters, or have digestive problems, ensuring flexibility and creativity in methods to assist children in eating. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics or related degree
One (1) year of clinical experience, pediatrics preferred
Licensed Dietitian in the state of Texas
Registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred

Responsibilities

Conducts Nutritional assessments and monitoring per DNV guidelines.
Conducts nutrition education and in-service education to meet the needs of patients and staff.
Assesses patient's nutritional status and establishes goals for each patient within 72 hours of admission.
Provides appropriate educational in-service to dietary and nursing departments.
Communicates with all appropriate disciplines information regarding patient care regularly.
Participates in patient team conferences.
Participates on appropriate committees as appointed.
Evaluates and approves patient menus and approves modified diets.
Instructs patients and their families on the nutritional needs at home and appropriate ways to achieve these as ordered by the physician.
Educates patient/family on food/drug interactions and documents appropriate notation of such in the patient medical record.
Documents all pertinent information regarding the patient's nutritional care in the patient's medical record in a timely and consistent manner.
Assists in planning and conducting appropriate performance improvement.
Develops and maintains department policies and procedures.
Operates within set departmental budget and implements cost-saving procedures.
Correlates dietary needs with laboratory findings consistently.
Collaborates with physicians regarding nutritional needs and suggestions.
Closely monitors patient weight to ensure goals of gain or loss are achieved.
Recommends and/or assists with specific nutritional patient measurements to evaluate more specific goals, i.e., calorie counts, pre-albumin/albumin monitoring, etc.
Allots extra time and problem-solving to children who fail to thrive, are picky eaters, have digestive problems, etc., to improve nutritional status.
Ensures flexibility and creativity in methods developed to assist children in eating.
Performs other duties as assigned.