Full Time Temporary Aide - Registered Dietitian II - Nutrition Services- CMHHIP

State of Colorado•Pueblo, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Dietitian II provides clinical dietetic services and helps manage food-service resources in a complex psychiatric hospital. The position provides medical nutrition therapy to inpatients and works closely with departmental and interdisciplinary teams. Using the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology, the dietitian assesses nutrition status, identifies nutrition diagnoses, and develops, implements, and evaluates individualized nutrition care plans for patients at nutrition risk. The role independently delivers advanced medical nutrition therapy using professional judgment, dietetic theory, specialized nutrition software, and electronic health records. It includes patient assessment and diagnosis, care planning and monitoring, accurate clinical documentation, communication with patients and healthcare professionals, and coordination with food-service staff and other dietitians. The dietitian also supports quality improvement and regulatory compliance, contributes to clinical policies and protocols, develops or revises education materials and forms, and participates in committees and nutrition projects. The position creates and finalizes menus in accordance with regulatory standards, the facility diet manual, menu guide, and facility needs; uses nutrition software to manage patient-specific menus, allergies, and texture modifications; and maintains professional development and practice standards. This is a temporary, full-time, 100% in-person position at the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo. The anticipated end date is June 30, 2027, though dates may change. Shift details will be discussed during the interview. Applicants must be current Colorado residents, and the position must be performed at the assigned work location. The role may require travel to offsite events and work on nights or weekends. The employee may be designated critical or essential and may be required to attend during emergencies or adverse weather. Work takes place in a high-security, locked psychiatric environment and involves in-person patient care on a large, multi-building campus.

Requirements

Attach a current and valid Registered Dietitian license with the application.
Maintain registration as a registered dietitian; the posting also specifies possession of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Have five years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the assigned work, such as dietetics or nutrition experience as a licensed dietitian registered with the American Dietetic Association; alternatively, have a qualifying combination of related education and relevant experience totaling five years.
Qualifying education includes a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or a related area from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign equivalent, and completion of required dietetics coursework and supervised practice through an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics.
Be a current Colorado resident when applying and remain a Colorado resident throughout employment.
Read, write, and communicate fluently in English sufficiently to pass required orientation, clinical competency assessments, and safety and security protocols.
Demonstrate physical endurance to navigate a large, multi-building hospital campus, including extended walking, standing during interdisciplinary rounds, and safely moving through clinical units for in-person assessments.
Work safely and compliantly in a high-security, locked psychiatric environment, follow protocols for contraband and key control, and maintain composure during unpredictable or volatile patient interactions.
Comply with mandatory emergency reporting and attendance requirements if designated a critical or essential employee, including during adverse weather, facility emergencies, or public health crises.
Complete a two-step TB screening upon hire and comply with annual influenza and other vaccinations required by Colorado.
Comply with restrictions against sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with current or former patients and disclose relationships with current or former patients as required.
Undergo required pre-employment background checks and screening, including name and fingerprint checks, court and fraud database checks, reference checks, professional license verification, drug screening, and other listed checks.
If applicable, disclose prior State of Colorado disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination, explain why it should not disqualify the applicant, and provide the prior employee number.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in Google Suite and Gmail.
Experience in behavioral health or eating disorders.
Clinical experience in a hospital setting or high-security facility.
Relevant years of State service experience.
Knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology and ability to apply all steps.
Proficiency with technology applications, including word processing, nutrient analysis, and spreadsheet software.
Clear written and verbal communication, counseling, technical writing, and presentation skills.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trusted working relationships and address customer, client, and employee needs with respect, dignity, and compassion.
Analytical thinking, including gathering information from varied sources, integrating evidence and observations, and using judgment to solve problems.
Customer-focused service that supports patient- and family-centered care and effectively responds to customer concerns.

Responsibilities

Independently assess patients’ nutrition status using relevant nutrition history, anthropometric measurements, biochemical data, medical tests and procedures, physical findings, and patient history.
Interpret nutrition assessment data and identify factors affecting nutrition and health status; consult or refer to other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
Identify and prioritize nutrition diagnoses, using standard terminology and PES statements to describe the problem, cause, and supporting evidence.
Develop individualized nutrition interventions and plans of care based on diagnoses, urgency, evidence-based practices, available resources, patient rights, and expected outcomes.
Monitor and evaluate patient outcomes using nutrition care indicators relevant to diagnoses, interventions, and clinical goals.
Document timely, accurate, and relevant Nutrition Care Process information in patients’ electronic medical records and maintain records of daily clinical activities.
Communicate nutrition recommendations and influence treatment through interdisciplinary meetings, rounds, in-services, and professional presentations; serve as a nutrition subject matter expert and resource.
Coordinate individualized nutrition care plans with healthcare professionals, food-service staff, and other registered dietitians.
Design and implement continuous quality improvement activities for nutrition care services; use patient council and survey input to improve food-service operations.
Participate in committees and collaborative decision-making, exchange information with other departments, and contribute to nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals.
Assist in developing or revising patient and staff education materials, clinical forms, protocols, and clinical nutrition policies and procedures.
Support compliance with patient privacy requirements, state regulations, licensing and credentialing standards, Joint Commission and other accreditation standards, and CMS requirements.
Create and finalize designated menus according to regulatory standards, the diet manual, menu guide, and facility needs.
Use nutrition software to build and manage patient-specific menus, food allergies, and specialized texture modifications.
Assess and update registered dietitian standards of practice at CMHHIP; support review and development of clinical nutrition protocols and hospital menus.
Participate in nutrition projects and communicate findings through reports, presentations, and other materials.
Develop and implement an individualized professional portfolio plan and continuously improve practice based on evidence, competencies, performance indicators, and feedback.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or Appointing Authority.