Staff Dietitian

Loretto Hospital•Chicago, IL

13d•$60,000 - $74,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Dietitian meets the nutritional needs of individuals and groups through active participation as a member of the health care team and teaches sound food and nutritional principles in accordance with recommended standards. Under the supervision of the Director of Nutritional Services, the dietitian supports patient screening, nutrition assessment and care planning, counseling, education, documentation, and department compliance and quality improvement activities. The role also provides nutrition support coverage during the Director’s absence and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and/or dietetics.
Current Dietitian Nutritionist License for the State of Illinois.
At least six months of related experience.

Responsibilities

Participate in patient screening for malnutrition.
Interview patients about diet histories, preferences, and tolerances to prescribed diets.
Participate as an active member of the Discharge Planning Team.
Counsel individuals and families on nutrition principles, dietary plans, food selection, and food economics, adapting plans to individual needs.
Serve as a liaison among patients, nutritional staff, and medical staff.
Obtain pertinent information from patients of different age groups and interpret it appropriately for assessment.
Treat patients or refer them to age-appropriate treatment services.
Provide coverage for nutrition support patients during the Director’s absence.
Assist the Director in assessing nutritional status and needs by collecting anthropometric, laboratory, medication, IV therapy, and enteral or parenteral nutrition support information related to diagnosis.
Assess and calculate calorie, protein, vitamin, mineral, and fluid requirements for patients at nutritional risk and make appropriate recommendations.
Consult with attending or consulting physicians regarding appropriate therapy, patients’ nutritional needs, and the appropriateness of dietary prescriptions.
Develop and implement plans of care for high-risk nutrition patients based on assessed needs, coordinating with other health care team members.
Evaluate nutritional care and provide follow-up for continuity of care, considering age-specific requirements.
Assist the Director in evaluating and developing care plans and assigning appropriate duties.
Provide in-service education and training for the department.
Provide group classes on nutrition-related topics.
Compile or develop educational materials and use them as aids in nutrition education.
Record pertinent patient nutrition-care information in the medical record using SOAP format and nutritional kardexes.
Maintain records of nutritional counseling.
Communicate food service problems to the Director and other department members.
Operate assigned equipment and perform procedures safely.
Evaluate environmental safety and provide an environment safe for patients based on age and developmental status.
Follow established emergency, infection control, and universal precautions procedures as required.
Maintain work areas and equipment according to standards and policies.
Attend mandatory safety and infection-control in-services.
Support and participate in department quality improvement activities.
Provide courteous service to internal and external customers, offer assistance or referrals as appropriate, communicate professionally and without judgment, and help resolve customer problems cooperatively.
Understand and adhere to the hospital’s compliance standards and keep current with applicable federal, state, and hospital regulations, laws, and policies.
Ensure staff are trained and evaluated on compliance policies and procedures specific to their jobs.
Perform other duties as assigned.