Registered Dietitian - Clinical Practice

Parkland Health

About The Position

Provides nutritional education and patient care to an assigned patient population to ensure patients receive optimal nutrition at Parkland. The Registered Dietitian screens and assesses patients’ nutritional status, develops individualized care plans, provides nutrition counseling and education, documents care, and monitors patient progress. The role also contributes nutrition expertise to interdisciplinary teams and serves as a resource and educator for healthcare professionals, trainees, and community groups. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition and one year of related dietetic experience in an acute care setting through an American Dietetic Association-coordinated undergraduate program or an American Dietetic Association-accredited internship program. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be accepted in lieu of the stated requirements. Candidates must be registered with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and licensed by the Texas Board of Dietitians, or obtain both within six months of employment. Parkland offers a $5,000 hiring incentive to eligible candidates who are not current Parkland employees and have not been employed by Parkland within the past 12 months.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition.
One year of related dietetic experience in an acute care setting through an American Dietetic Association-coordinated undergraduate program or an American Dietetic Association-accredited internship program.
Must be a registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and licensed to practice dietetics by the Texas Board of Dietitians, or obtain registration and licensure within six months of employment.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with departmental personnel, hospital staff, and patients.
Basic computer skills, including working knowledge of database programs, data report analysis software, and electronic medical record charting.
Ability to demonstrate patient-centered and patient-valued behaviors.
May be required to demonstrate advanced knowledge of nutrition and patient education skills.

Nice To Haves

An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be accepted in lieu of the specified education and/or experience.

Responsibilities

Screens patients for nutritional risk, when applicable.
Assesses nutritional status and consults with physicians and support staff; develops individualized care plans based on patient preferences, age, disease state, and resources; calculates age-appropriate calorie and protein needs; and modifies diets accordingly.
Documents pertinent objective and subjective data regarding patient status and care.
Instructs, educates, and counsels patients of all ages and their significant others in nutritional therapy.
Tailors instructions to patients’ lifestyles, preferences, resources, ethnicity, language, and literacy levels; provides age-appropriate educational materials and adapts teaching methods to individual needs.
Teaches medical nutrition therapy classes as appropriate and documents instruction, comprehension, and follow-up needs in patient charts and records.
Reassesses nutritional status, consults with physicians and support staff, and schedules follow-up assessments to monitor progress.
Participates in committees and interdisciplinary teams, contributing patient-care expertise, problem-solving, clinical practice guideline review and revision, and practice protocol implementation.
Serves as a nutrition resource to healthcare professionals, interns, trainees, community civic groups, and media; conducts research, in-services, and workshops; contributes to publications; and provides continuing education.
Trains and/or monitors dietetic technicians, student interns or trainees, and other assigned staff in providing nutritional care and services.