Registered Dietitian - Food and Nutrition Services (24 Hours Per Week)

Denver Health•Denver, CO

6d•$63,300 - $91,800

About The Position

The Registered Dietitian works under minimal supervision in Food and Nutrition Services, providing inpatient nutrition assessment and reassessment, menu management, and patient education. The role implements Medical Nutrition Therapy to optimize patient care and outcomes and participates in multidisciplinary patient care rounds. The dietitian also assists the Chief Clinical Dietitian with performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities. The position includes assessing and reassessing at-risk patients within established time frames, planning menus to meet appropriate caloric needs, entering nutrition support orders, and providing individualized or group education tailored to patients’ needs and readiness to learn. The dietitian documents patient care, contributes to quality improvement activities, evaluates trays, visits patients, and works with diet technicians and diet office personnel as needed. This is a regular 0.6 FTE position with variable shifts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
1–3 years of related experience in clinical or public health nutrition.
Registered Dietitian certification from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to delegate responsibility appropriately.
Ability to exercise good independent judgment.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions and assess patient-status data and interpret appropriate information.
Knowledge of disease-specific and age-specific nutrition standards of care.
Understanding of Local, State, Federal, and The Joint Commission standards and regulations.
Competency with computer systems for order entry and updating diet and patient information.
Understanding of how to use the current online Nutrition Care Manual.
Ability to use Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and other IT and software systems.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with menu planning and meeting appropriate caloric needs.
Perform individual and group nutrition education according to established standards of care.
Assess at-risk patients and complete assessments within 72 hours of assessed need, referral, risk notification, or physician consult.
Reassess at-risk patients according to nutrition-risk time frames.
Enter nutrition support orders as indicated.
Prioritize workload appropriately.
Tailor education to the patient’s or family’s education level, learning needs, and readiness to learn.
Provide and document appropriate education within 48 hours of assessed need and in accordance with policy.
Participate in hospital activities that maintain high-quality patient care and services.
Participate in physician rounds, discharge planning, and team conferences as a multidisciplinary team member.
Participate in quality improvement or patient care committees and task forces as assigned.
Complete monthly productivity logs.
Perform assigned performance improvement and continuous quality improvement projects.
Conduct monthly tray evaluations and patient visitations according to schedule.
Identify opportunities to improve service and care and make suggestions.
Communicate effectively with patients, visitors, peers, medical staff, and other employees.
Obtain patient information and handle patient and customer requests and complaints.
Document patient care activities on appropriate forms and according to accepted hospital practice.
Use computer software, programs, and the electronic medical record for diet office functions and clinical activities.
Perform intake analysis, including calorie counts, as needed.
Enter clinical activity data accurately into the computer tracking program.
Provide guidance and assistance to diet technicians and diet office personnel, including help with problem resolution.
Maintain professional education through meetings, seminars, in-services, and literature review.
Attend at least one professional meeting or seminar per year for each clinical specialty or age-specific population in the clinician’s service area.
Share information from educational meetings and in-services by providing education, assistance, or training to departmental staff.
Provide education, assistance, or training to the hospital as assigned.
Perform work accurately and at the appropriate productivity level, adhering to assigned break and lunch times.
Work collaboratively as a team member, asking for assistance when needed and assisting others when required.

Benefits

Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, including vacation, personal/sick time, and seven holidays.
100% paid parental leave for up to six weeks.
Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions up to 9.5%.
Medical, dental, and vision plans, plus employer-paid disability and life insurance.
Well-being programs, including an on-site employee fitness center and the RESTORE Center.
Free RTD EcoPass for public transportation.
Childcare discount programs and discounts and perks on brands, travel, and more.
Tuition reimbursement and assistance.
Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center.
Professional clinical advancement program and shared governance.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness-eligible employer, with free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the program.
National Health Service Corps and Colorado Health Service Corps eligibility.