Student Dietitian Clinical Placement

Fresenius Medical Care•Wheaton, MD

About The Position

The student intern supports FMCNA's mission, vision, core values, and customer service philosophy, and follows its Compliance Program, regulatory requirements, and policies. As part of a dialysis health care team, the intern provides medical nutrition therapy to patients under the direct supervision of a registered dietitian, in accordance with company policies, procedures, training, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The dietetic intern is currently enrolled in an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship or university-based Coordinated Program in Dietetics. Under the direct guidance of a Renal Dietitian, the intern participates in renal nutrition training and workflow, patient interviews and counseling, nutrition assessment and care planning, documentation, patient and staff education activities, and interdisciplinary quality meetings. The role involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. The Clinical Manager assigns and closely monitors intern assignments, with direct supervision from a Registered Dietitian based on the agreed education plan. The intern may not work under the supervision of a family member or care for a family member who is a patient at the facility.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree in Nutrition or Dietetics, or current enrollment in an accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics.
Must be enrolled in an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship or university-based Coordinated Program in Dietetics.
Cannot work under the supervision of a family member.
Cannot care for a patient who is a family member; if a family member is a patient at the facility, the intern will be scheduled on days that patient is not present or assigned to another patient.

Nice To Haves

Outstanding customer service to internal and external customers.
Desire to deliver superior patient care and embrace Fresenius' mission and values.

Responsibilities

Review Renal Nutrition Basics and applicable components of staff dietitian orientation and training requirements.
Review the typical workflow and role of the Renal Dietitian.
Conduct nutrition interviews with patients.
Calculate diet prescription recommendations.
Provide nutrition counseling to patients or designated caregivers on the prescribed renal diet.
Collect data for initial, 90-day, semi-annual assessments where applicable by state, and annual Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Assessments.
Assist the registered dietitian with developing and implementing nutrition plans of care.
Review monthly nutrition data with patients or designated caregivers.
Practice writing monthly nutrition progress notes.
Provide input into the development and implementation of nutrition plans of care.
Create nutrition-related projects for patients or staff, such as bulletin boards, education handouts, games, or lobby activities.
Attend Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement and other interdisciplinary team meetings with the registered dietitian, and participate as appropriate.
Perform additional duties as assigned.