Registered Dietician PRN

Kindred Healthcare•Rancho Cucamonga, CA

3d•$31 - $39

About The Position

The Dietitian is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patients’ nutritional care in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, standards, and evidence-based clinical guidelines. The role works with interdisciplinary teams to support quality nutritional outcomes and meet individualized dietary needs through clinical consultation, menu oversight, education, and monitoring. Responsibilities include maintaining professional competency and registration, contributing to department budgets and nutritional-care policies, participating in performance improvement and quality assurance, and supporting hospital surveys and corrective actions. The Dietitian conducts initial and ongoing patient assessments, prescribes and monitors nutrition therapy, develops care plans with interdisciplinary teams, provides education, advocates for patient rights and individual preferences, and coordinates resolution of food-service concerns. When the Culinary Services Manager is not a Registered Dietitian, the role provides oversight of menu management, including review and approval of patient menus and substitutions, nutritional information, diet-order transcription, snack orders, and food and supply ordering. The Dietitian also trains managers and staff on therapeutic diets, menus, allergens, and related topics. The position works cooperatively across hospital departments, keeps current with relevant regulations and industry developments, attends required meetings and in-services, and maintains required licensure or certification.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in dietetics, nutrition, or a related field.
Registered Dietitian credential with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) upon hire.
Knowledge of evidence-based clinical nutrition guidelines.
Ability to work accurately, concisely, and with attention to detail.
Knowledge of quantity food production and safe food preparation and handling techniques.
Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office, word-processing, and spreadsheet software.
Ability to read, write, and speak fluent English.
Good and regular attendance.
Maintain current licensure or certification for the position.

Nice To Haves

SAFE Serve Certification upon hire or within the facility-specified time frame.
Prior experience in acute clinical care, nutrition support, and disease-specific nutrition.

Responsibilities

Maintain professional growth, complete annual competency testing, and maintain registration and licensure or certification.
Perform work in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, company policies, procedures, evidence-based clinical guidelines, and scope of practice.
Participate in planning the department budget and submit capital budget requests to the Controller/CFO.
Participate in developing and implementing policies and procedures related to patient nutritional care.
Participate in the hospital Performance Improvement program by aggregating, trending, and acting on data for key clinical nutrition indicators.
Develop the annual QAPI department plan with mandatory components and submit monthly reports to hospital committees as required.
Monitor kitchen quality assurance, spot-check logs, and conduct kitchen safety and sanitation audits and test-tray audits.
Participate in the survey process, instruct staff on conduct and disclosure, maintain a presence while surveyors are onsite, and direct timely collection of requested information.
Take corrective action during surveys when appropriate and work with other departments on survey plans of correction as needed.
Serve on committees as required by company standards, regulations, or the immediate supervisor.
Conduct initial and reassessments for all patients admitted to the hospital.
Ensure completion of nutrition documentation, including assessments, care plans, education, and discharge planning.
Prescribe nutrition therapy to meet estimated needs, monitor tolerance, and reassess patients to ensure optimal therapy.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to develop, implement, and monitor nutrition care plans.
Interview patients, family members, legal representatives, significant others, and staff to obtain diet history, food preferences, and other information needed for care planning.
Advocate for patients’ rights and accommodate individual needs and cultural or religious preferences.
Involve patients and families in planning care objectives and goals.
Provide nutrition education individually and in classes to patients, families, staff, and the community as appropriate.
Conduct meal rounds to verify patients receive appropriate nutrition therapy.
Coordinate with the Culinary Service Manager to resolve patient concerns or dissatisfaction with diets or meal service.
When the Culinary Services Manager is not a Registered Dietitian, monitor the manager’s oversight of menu management.
Review and approve patient menus and substitutions, and review and approve nutritional data posted in the café.
Oversee transcription of diet orders, checking of patient snack orders against diet orders, and timely snack distribution.
Provide oversight as needed for ordering food and supplies to support diets and snacks.
Train managers and staff as needed on therapeutic diets, menus, food allergens, and related topics.
Work cooperatively with coworkers across hospital departments and routinely communicate issues, concerns, and improvement opportunities to the immediate supervisor.
Stay current with federal LTAC and food-safety regulations, applicable state regulations, industry trends, products, research, and foodservice programs, incorporating relevant information into work.
Apply knowledge of growth and development across the lifespan and provide age-appropriate care to the patient population served.
Attend mandatory in-services and staff meetings, maintain current licensure or certification, and follow hospital health, safety, security, and hazardous-materials policies.
Perform other related duties as assigned.