Registered Dietician

Fresenius Medical Care•Alexandria, VA

3d•$70,000 - $117,000

About The Position

Provides nutritional services for the facility’s in-center and home patients, as applicable, to maximize nutritional status and improve clinical outcomes. The Registered Dietician is a member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team and supports the FMCNA Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI) activities, and other process improvements that help patients achieve individualized goals established by their physicians. The role assesses patients’ understanding of diet and kidney disease, provides patient- and caregiver-specific nutrition education and counseling, completes nutritional assessments, calculates diet prescriptions, and participates in developing and implementing individualized plans of care. The position monitors patients’ nutritional status, laboratory results, and response to nutrition therapy, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and physicians on appropriate recommendations and interventions. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is characteristic of a healthcare facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Day-to-day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. No supervision is provided.

Requirements

Registered Dietitian credential as specified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Current state licensure, if applicable.
At least 1 year of professional work experience in clinical nutrition as a Registered Dietitian.
Demonstrated leadership competencies and skills, including teaching ability, strong organizational skills, excellent communication, customer service, relationship development, results orientation, team building, and decision making.
Ability to perform responsibilities with minimum supervision.
Basic computer skills.

Nice To Haves

Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition; encouraged.
Previous renal experience.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease and provide education suited to their learning needs.
Educate patients, families, and caregivers about nutritional status, adequacy measures and results, fluid status, and nutrition-related laboratory parameters.
Complete nutritional assessments and participate in interdisciplinary comprehensive assessments.
Participate with the interdisciplinary team in developing written, individualized comprehensive plans of care in accordance with applicable Federal and state requirements.
Calculate diet prescriptions according to standards of practice.
Complete progress notes for chronic dialysis patients and maintain accurate medical-record documentation according to FMCNA policies and applicable regulations.
Provide ongoing nutrition assessment and outcome-oriented counseling to help patients achieve and sustain effective nutritional status.
Identify patients who are malnourished or at risk for malnutrition and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on interventions, resources, and solutions.
Review each patient’s albumin level and body weight at least monthly and implement the plan of care with patient, family, or caregiver involvement.
Monitor adherence and response to nutrition therapy, adjust therapy as needed, document barriers to achieving goals, and address those barriers through the plan of care.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to achieve the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on management and recommendations involving mineral metabolism and renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutritional and psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation status, and sodium and volume control.
Adhere to FMCNA algorithms and medical-record policies.
Report nutrition QAI results and participate in the interdisciplinary QAI program.
Coordinate with team members to provide Pre-ESRD education as appropriate.
Work with the Case Manager, when appropriate, to coordinate patient education and identify candidates for physician referral for nutritional supplements under disease management agreements.
Review nutrition-related laboratory results, counsel patients or caregivers, formulate appropriate actions, recommend treatment changes, and communicate results and recommendations to the interdisciplinary team, physicians, facility staff, and relevant care providers.
Participate in staff, quality improvement, care plan, and other applicable meetings.
Consult with the FMS Corporate Dietitian about nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills, and maintain dietetic registration and continuing education hours as specified by the American Dietetic Association and applicable state licensure regulations.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to ensure work areas are safe and clean.
Perform other assigned nutrition management and related duties.