Registered Dietitian - Nutrition Support Specialist

Baylor Scott & White Health•Highland Park, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Transplant Nutrition Specialist 2 provides advanced medical nutrition therapy for patients with end-stage organ failure, pre- and post-transplant recipients, and living donors. This role involves comprehensive nutrition assessment, individualized care planning, and implementation of evidence-based nutrition interventions to optimize patient outcomes. Performs all duties of Transplant Nutrition Spec 1 as well as TPN or insulin management based upon certifications and competencies.

Requirements

Extensive knowledge of nutrition science, metabolism, disease states, and advanced medical nutrition therapy, including enteral and parenteral nutrition support, transplant-related metabolic complications , and patient counseling within specialized transplant care settings.
Comprehensive understanding of medical terminology, disease prevention strategies, and pharmacology relevant to transplant patients, including drug-nutrient interactions, immunosuppressant effects on metabolism, and potential adverse reactions.
Ability to provide age-specific, evidence-based medical nutrition therapy (MNT) tailored to the complex needs of transplant patients. Develops, evaluates, and modifies patient care plans while demonstrating cultural competence, sensitivity, and respect for diverse patient backgrounds.
Strong clinical decision-making and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex medical cases, adjust nutrition interventions, and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to optimize transplant patient outcomes.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively educate patients, provide nutrition counseling, and collaborate with interdisciplinary transplant teams and community stakeholders.
Strong interpersonal skills to establish productive working relationships with multidisciplinary teams and support services.
Commitment to lifelong learning, maintaining current knowledge of nutrition science and transplant advancements through literature reviews, professional development activities, and participation in national organizations.
Ability to organize, prioritize tasks, and work independently in a fast-paced transplant setting.
Ability to actively listen, counsel, and motivate patients in adherence to complex dietary regimens.
Accountable for maintaining compliance with patient-protected health information (PHI) regulations and ethical standards in dietetics.
Proficient in electronic health records (EHR) for accurate documentation, patient monitoring, and data analysis. Skilled in healthcare technology and digital tools relevant to transplant nutrition practice.
Masters'
2 Years of Experience
Registered Dietitians (RD)
Cert Clin Nutr Transplant Diet (CCTD), Cert Diabetes Care & Edu Spec (CDCES), Cert Nutrition Support Cln (CNSC): Must have RD and one of the following: CDCES: Certified Diabetes and Education Specialist or CNSC: Certified Nutrition Support Clinician CCTD: Certified Clinical Nutrition Transplant Dietitian.

Responsibilities

Performs advanced nutrition assessments of patients with complicated medical conditions integrating biochemical, clinical, and anthropometric data with a nutrition-focused physical assessment.
Interprets complex patient medical data and interviews patients and caregivers to develop individualized medical nutrition therapy plans.
Conducts frailty tests in select patients and provides targeted nutrition interventions to optimize pre- and post-transplant recovery.
Assesses calorie, protein, fluid, vitamin, mineral, electrolyte, and insulin needs of patients.
Formulates and implements individual nutrition prescriptions for oral diets and supplements.
Implements enteral tube feeding including placement of nasoenteric feeding tubes and selecting formulas, infusion rates, and duration.
With appropriate certification, manages parenteral nutrition therapy and prescribes formula selection (including micronutrients and electrolytes) as well as infusion rates, duration, and routes.
Recommends and orders appropriate laboratory tests, monitors biochemical and clinical indices, and evaluates tolerance of nutrition therapies.
Monitors patients’ response to nutrition therapies and adjusts therapies as indicated.
For credentialed professionals, acts as a clinical expert in diabetes insulin management, supporting transplant patients with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin regimen adjustments in coordination with providers.
Provides individualized and group counseling on complex, multi-factorial diets, including post-transplant dietary restrictions, immunosuppressant interactions, and metabolic management.
Integrates assessments of socio-economic status, family dynamics, patient motivation, and adherence barriers to develop personalized nutrition plans.
Educates patients and caregivers on fitness, weight management, and frailty interventions within the context of organ failure and transplant nutrition.
Develops nutrition education tools such as handouts, pamphlets, booklets, etc.
Plays a key role in transplant candidacy evaluations and contributes to transplant selection conferences.
Participates in multidisciplinary patient rounds, clinic visits, and discharge planning as well as meetings related to nutrition or transplant education, patient care standards, or policies.
Researches, develops, and delivers education and instructional programs for dietetic interns, healthcare professionals, or community groups.
Assists with curriculum development, training, instruction, and evaluation of dietetic interns.
Engages in transplant nutrition research, contributing to study design, literature review, data collection, and results analysis.
May serve as an investigator and present research findings through national conferences, abstracts, or publications.
Evaluates and appropriately utilizes pertinent research information and guidelines in directing patient care.
Participates in quality assurance programs by assisting in the development of patient care criteria and analyzing care given.
Inpatient Transplant Nutrition Specialists participate in a rotating schedule for holiday coverage and weekend on-call responsibilities to ensure continuous nutrition care for transplant patients.