Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

The Clinical Dietitian, Advanced Specialist works with the departmental and interdisciplinary health care team to provide patient care that is integrated and compatible with patient-centered medical goals and objectives. This position is responsible for assessing the nutritional status, identifying nutrition concerns, and will develop, implement, and evaluate outcomes of nutrition care plans for patients at nutrition risk in specialized populations. This position participates in the planning, organization and operation of information systems related to patient nutrition care and ensures the accurate entry of orders, abiding by all medical regulatory standards. This position must work in one of the following specialty areas: NICU, Oncology-BMT, Nutrition Informatics, Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation, Solid Organ Transplant, Cystic Fibrosis, or Home Infusion TPN. This position may be required to access and administer medications within their scope of practice and according to State Law.

Qualifications

Required

• Registered Dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

• Current License to practice as a Certified Dietitian in the State of Utah.

• One of the following
• Current certification as a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) through the National Board for Nutrition Support Certification.
• Current Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) certification through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

• Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, or a related field.
• Four years of clinical nutrition experience.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Business, Management, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Certificate of Training in Nutrition Informatics from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated vaccination requirements, or be approved for an exemption, prior to the first day of work. We protect our patients, coworkers and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

• Conducts comprehensive nutritional assessments for the patient's nutritional needs by collecting, recording, and interpreting data from patients, clients, family members, caregivers, and other individuals and groups.
• Organizes and categorizes the data in a meaningful framework that links nutrition assessment parameters with nutrition diagnoses, and determines when a problem requires consultation with or referral to another provider.
• Formulates nutrition intervention plan based on nutrition related concerns and prioritizes interventions; utilizes evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines and other practice guidelines to evaluate plan effectiveness.
• Defines time and frequency of care, including intensity, duration, and follow-up; modifies the plan of care as needed.
• Monitors and measures outcomes by selecting relevant nutrition care indicators; compares findings with intervention goals for nutrition and determines whether goals/outcomes are being met.
• Manages total parenteral nutrition macronutrient calculations for specialized populations.
• Works cooperatively with health care providers, patient/client/caregivers to implement and communicate the nutrition care plan and expected outcomes.
• Provides nutrition counseling and education to patients, families and caregivers, and the community.
• Ensures that state and local certification for health, safety, and quality standards are met.
• Creates and maintains training programs and manages training of nutrition and dietetics interns and other health care profession students in his/her specialty area.
• Conducts in-services and educational presentations for hospital and department staff and oversees the development and revision of specialized patient education materials, clinical forms, and protocols.
• Acts as an advocate, resource, and liaison with nursing and the medical staff by providing optimal communication and enhancing patient nutritional care, education and research opportunities.
• Participates in outcome measure initiatives to validate nutrition program performance and creates reports.
• Manages information and data for operations and performance improvement, which may include foodservice systems, clinical management systems, nutrient database systems, and electronic health record system.
• Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities, including information for scheduling and billing.
• Participates in departmental and interdisciplinary meetings, task forces and projects.
• May enter nutrition-related orders, as defined by University of Utah Registered Dietitian Protocol.
• May conduct and/or collaborate in nutrition research.

Problem Solving

Comments

The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.  The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.