Registered Dietician

Fresenius Medical Care•Williamsburg, VA

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 commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAI), and process-improvement activities that help patients achieve individualized goals determined by their physicians. The role assesses patients’ knowledge of diet and kidney disease; provides patient-specific nutrition education and counseling; completes nutritional and interdisciplinary assessments; calculates diet prescriptions; and contributes to individualized plans of care. The Registered Dietician monitors nutrition therapy, nutritional status, relevant laboratory results, albumin levels, and body weight, and collaborates with patients, caregivers, physicians, and the interdisciplinary team to address nutrition-related needs and clinical outcomes. The position also maintains complete medical-record documentation, participates in QAI and staff meetings, coordinates education and care with relevant team members, and maintains dietetic registration and continuing education as required. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise. The position may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials, desk and personal-computer work, interaction with patients and staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. No supervision responsibilities are listed.

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 the ability to teach, strong organizational skills, excellent communication, customer service, relationship development, results orientation, team building, and decision-making.
Ability to perform responsibilities with minimal supervision.
Basic computer skills.

Nice To Haves

Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition is encouraged.
Previous renal experience is preferred.

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 in developing written, individualized comprehensive plans of care in accordance with applicable federal and state guidelines.
Calculate diet prescriptions according to standard practice.
Complete progress notes for chronic dialysis patients and maintain accurate medical-record documentation in accordance with company 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 of malnutrition and work with the interdisciplinary team to determine appropriate interventions and resources.
Review each patient’s albumin level and body weight at least monthly.
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 in the plan of care.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on Urea Kinetic Modeling recommendations to help achieve the physician’s Kt/V prescription.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team on mineral metabolism and renal bone disease, anemia and iron status, nutritional and psychosocial status, vascular access, modality, rehabilitation status, and sodium/volume control.
Follow FMCNA algorithms and medical-record policies.
Report nutrition QAI results and participate in the interdisciplinary QAI program.
Coordinate with team members in providing 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 physicians, facility staff, and care providers in nursing facilities as appropriate.
Participate in relevant staff, quality-improvement, and care-plan meetings.
Consult with the FMS Corporate Dietitian regarding nutrition concerns as needed.
Maintain and improve professional knowledge and skills, dietetic registration, and continuing education as required by the Commission on Dietetic Registration 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.