Registered Dietitian NE

Connecticut Children's Medical Center•Hartford, CT

30d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Registered Dietitian assesses the nutritional status of inpatients and, as necessary, outpatients at very high or high risk. This includes reviewing patient history, lab results, performing nutrition-focused physical exams (including measurements like heights, weights, skin folds, and head measurements), analyzing medications, and assessing disease states and educational needs of patients and their caregivers/families. The dietitian develops, documents, and implements nutritional plans based on assessment results. They participate in interdisciplinary team rounds to promote nutritional care and serve as a community resource, particularly for home care and area pediatricians. The role involves providing education and counseling to caregivers, pediatric patients, and their families, as well as to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They round with physicians to offer advice, monitor patient status, and adjust therapy as needed. Additionally, the dietitian provides guidance and instruction to diet technicians and nutrition assistants, and serves as a mentor/trainer for new staff and dietetic interns. The position requires active participation in department Quality Improvement (QI) activities, including maintaining monthly statistics and reports, completing interdisciplinary chart audits and peer reviews, and identifying clinical safety or operational issues to communicate to stakeholders. The dietitian also participates in developing and implementing practice protocols for continuous quality improvement in nutritional therapy, assists with hospital research, and stays current with nutrition research, educating staff and students. They act as a preceptor for nutrition students and demonstrate knowledge of age-related differences and needs of patients from pre-term neonates through adolescence, applying this to practice. Cultural sensitivity in all patient/family interactions and support for the organization's mission, values, and goals through consistent behavior are expected.

Requirements

Bachelor or Masters of Science in Nutrition or completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics in accordance with Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics leading to registration eligibility.
Medical Nutrition Therapy in accordance with Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics standards.
Medical Terminology.
Drug Nutrient Interactions.
Pediatric genetic/metabolic disease states.
Proficiency with electronic health and medical records, Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Access programs.
Accurate Keyboarding abilities and math skills required.
American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider required within 6 months of hire.
Registered Dietitian (R.D.) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics preferred and required within 6 months of hire.
CT State Certification (CD-N) is required on hire, exception is new grad required within 6 months of hire.
Registration eligibility is that established by the Committee on Dietetic Registration and may include Completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics along with Accredited Dietetic Internship Program OR Accredited Coordinated Program.

Nice To Haves

Two to Five years pediatric experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess the nutritional status of inpatients and outpatients at very high or high risk.
Develop, document, and implement nutritional plans based on assessment results.
Participate in interdisciplinary team rounds to promote nutritional care.
Serve as a community resource, especially for home care and area pediatricians.
Provide education and counseling to caregivers, pediatric patients, and their families.
Provide education to MD's, RN's and other disciplines as needed.
Round with physicians to provide advice, monitor patient status and make adjustments to therapy as needed.
Provide guidance and instruction to diet technicians and nutrition assistants.
Serve as a mentor/trainer for new staff and dietetic interns.
Participate fully in all department QI activities and maintain monthly stats and reports.
Complete interdisciplinary chart audits and peer reviews.
Identify clinical safety issues and/or department business or efficiency issues and communicate to appropriate stakeholders.
Participate in developing and implementing practice protocols to provide continuous quality improvement in all aspects of nutritional therapy.
Participate in hospital research as requested.
Keep up-to-date on research in nutrition and educate staff and students on nutritional issues; act as a preceptor for students in nutrition.
Demonstrate knowledge of the age-related differences and needs of patients in appropriate, specific populations from pre-term neonate through adolescence and applies them to practice.
Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in all interactions with patients/families.
Demonstrate support for the mission, values and goals of the organization through behaviors that are consistent with Connecticut Childrens Medical Center Standards.
Provide supervision, guidance and instruction to dietetic technicians, nutrition assistants and dietetic interns.