Registered Diettician

Turlock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center•Turlock, CA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Dietary Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations governing our facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that quality nutritional services are provided on a daily basis and that the dietary department is maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner. The position may be classified as salaried exempt and is justified by a program requiring at least 50% of time dedicated to the management of the department and personnel.

Requirements

Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelor's Degree in Dietetics from an accredited college or university.
Must have training in cost control, food management, diet therapy, etc.
Have a Registered Dietician credential or a State certification to allow the individual to work as a Certified Dietician.
Must provide evidence of being free of tuberculosis infection upon hire and as set forth by the policies of the facility.
Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
Must possess the ability to make independent decision when circumstances warrant such action.
Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
Must be able to cope with the mental emotional and stress of the position.
Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively.
Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which may include a medical and physical examination.
Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.
Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds.
Frequent carrying of dietary supplies.
Requires frequent pushing and pulling of carts.
May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

Responsibilities

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the Dietary Department, its programs and activities.
Develop and maintain written dietary policies and procedures.
Interpret the department's policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc., as necessary.
Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Dietary Supervisor and/or Administrator as necessary/required concerning the operation of the Dietary Department.
Review and develop a plan of correction for dietary service deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such to the Administrator for their approval.
Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow facility's established procedures.
Develop and implement a dietary service organization structure.
Assist the Quality Assessment and Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct dietary deficiencies.
Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the Dietary Department.
Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in planning the dietary services portion of the resident's discharge plan.
Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
Interview residents or family members, as necessary, to obtain diet history.
Ensure that charted dietary progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service.
Visit residents periodically to evaluate the quality of meals served, likes and dislikes, etc.
Assist in planning regular and special diet menus as prescribed by the attending physician for individual residents.
Review therapeutic and regular diet plans and menus to assure they are in compliance with the physician's orders.
Review the dietary requirements of each resident admitted to the facility, as may be required, and assist the attending physician in planning for the resident's prescribed diet plan.
Meet with dietary personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the Dietary Department, assist in identifying and correct problem areas, and/or the methods of improvement of services.
Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the Dietary Department's needs.
Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate dietary services to assure that daily dietary services can be performed without interruption.
Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis as well as a calm environment throughout the department.
Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.
Ensure that dietary service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
Ensure that dietary service personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
Assist in the purchase of food service supplies, equipment, etc., as required.
Develop a written dietary plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) that identifies the dietary problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each dietary problem/need identified.
Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of the resident's plan of care.
Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.
Ensure that all dietary personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in planning daily dietary services for the resident.
Review nurses' notes to determine if the care plan is being followed. Discuss problem areas with the Director of Nursing Services.
Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing the resident's comprehensive plan of care.
Assist in preparing and planning the Dietary Department's budget for food, equipment, supplies, and labor, and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations, and approval.
Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary.
Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent resident care information.
Knock before entering a resident's room.
Ensure that all dietary service personnel are knowledgeable of the resident's rights, including the right of refusal.
Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Administrator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility's established procedures.