Nutritionist - WIC - PAT III

Tippecanoe County Government•Lafayette, IN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Incumbent serves as Nutritionist for the WIC Program, responsible for certifying and providing basic nutrition education. This position requires the incumbent to perform duties in a community health clinic involving close vision, hearing/sounds communication, speaking clearly, lifting/carrying objects weighing less than 25 pounds, bending, reaching, handling/grasping/fingering objects, and exposure to noise, communicable diseases, and bloodborne pathogens, for which universal health precautions must be followed to avoid infection. Incumbent occasionally works extended hours, regularly works evening hours, and occasionally works weekends or travels out of town for training, sometimes overnight.

Requirements

Registered Nurse (R.N.)
Registered Dietitian (R.D.)
Registration eligible for the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam
Bachelors or Master’s Degree in Dietetics, Nutrition or Nutrition Sciences, Public Health Nutrition, Community Nutrition, or Clinical Nutrition.
Bachelors or Master’s Degree in which, through review of an official transcript from an accredited college, includes a study in nutrition. These degrees include but are not limited to: Family and Consumer Sciences; Food and Nutrition in Business; and Nutrition, Fitness, and Health .
Working knowledge of state and federal WIC program requirements and standard nutritional guidelines and ability to conduct nutritional assessments, provide appropriate education and counseling, and make referrals to Registered Dietitians as appropriate.
Working knowledge of health and social services available to county residents, and ability to make appropriate referrals.
Ability to learn about breast feeding through local and state educational opportunities and self study.
Working knowledge of and ability to use universal health precautions to avoid infection, and ability to properly operate various medical equipment, audio/visual equipment and computer/technological equipment.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, community agencies, healthcare providers, and program clients, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions and participate in in-service education and staff meetings.
Ability to work alone and with others in a team environment with minimum supervision, often under time pressure and be flexible during periods of program change.
Ability to occasionally work extended hours, regularly work evening hours, and occasionally work weekends or travel out of town for training, sometimes overnight.

Responsibilities

Measures height, weight, and hemoglobin of program applicants to determine eligibility for program benefit.
Maintains client records as required using required computer applications.
Conducts nutritional assessments, assigns risk factors, and creates and tailors a food prescription that is appropriate to client needs, cultural food patterns, and modifications in diet.
Includes client in nutrition goal development and provides education based on need and readiness to change.
Provides clients appropriate health counseling and referrals to medical and community service organizations.
Provides educational programs for clients in the form of classes or demonstrations and maintains related files and records.
Promotes breast feeding as the ideal feeding method for babies by providing all pregnant and breastfeeding women with nutrition education opportunities that promote and support breastfeeding .
Maintains current knowledge of public health nutrition and breastfeeding, including attending continuing education conferences, webinars, or meetings.
Increases counseling skills in both nutrition and breastfeeding on a continual basis.
May make hospital visits and/or other community agency visits to see current and eligible WIC clients and complete certification procedures as needed .
Performs related duties as assigned.