Clinical Dietitian

About the Role

Provides complete nutrition care and education to all inpatients, including high priority and at-risk inpatients, and/or responsible family members at Cape Cod Hospital. Assists with outpatient and community programs as needed.

Responsibilities

Inpatient

• Performs nutritional assessments and nutrition screens, appropriate and timely per established policies and procedure.
• Develops nutrition care plans and monitors patient response to care plan developed, utilizing the Nutrition Care Process, and provides discharge diet instructions.
• Educates patients and/or responsible family members in physician-ordered diet modifications using department-approved educational materials and a language interpreter when necessary.
• Consults with Clinical Nutrition Manager and/or other Dietitians within the department regarding care plans for patients with complex needs.
• Makes appropriate recommendations to prescribing physician for necessary changes in diet orders, based on results of nutritional assessment.
• Documents provided medical nutrition therapy and education in the patient's medical record, discharge/departmental files.
• Upholds departmental and inter-departmental protocols regarding delivery of medical nutrition therapy.
• Acts as a professional resource person for non-professional and non-clinical employees within the department.
• Communicates interdepartmentally with other health care professionals, as well as with community health agencies.
• Participates in reviewing, updating, and reformulating the hospital's diet manual and educational materials.
• Participates in Performance Improvement activities and tracks clinical productivity.
• Acts as a preceptor for nutrition students and dietetic interns.
• Consistently provides service excellence to all patients, family members, visitors, volunteers, and co-workers.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Outpatient (as needed)

• Provides nutritional counseling services to patients and families in coordination with cardiac rehabilitation protocols and concepts.
• Provides educational classes on various aspects of the cardiac diet, including diet modification to reduce cardiovascular risk, maintain dietary restrictions, and achieve ideal weight, and provides appropriate nutrition education materials.
• Completes comprehensive nutritional analysis.
• Recommends referrals for further instructions for patient and family members as necessary.
• Provides one-on-one private consultation with the patient and family when warranted for diet modification strategies as needed.
• Assists program staff in monitoring patient progress toward nutritional goals.
• Provides necessary nutrition involvement in other Cape Cod Hospital outpatient and community programs as necessary and appropriate.
• Consistently provides service excellence to all patients, family members, visitors, and co-workers.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.
• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate college program.
• Completion of a supervised practice program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) or approved by the Board.
• For Clinical Dietitians hired on and after January 1, 2024, a graduate (Master’s) degree will complete the requirements to sit for the CDR exam.
• RD eligible (RDE) upon date of hire.
• Passage of the CDR exam within six (6) months of hire required.
• Licensure within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts within six (6) months of hire required.
• Knowledge in all aspects of medical nutrition therapy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks efficiently.
• Minimum one (1) year hospital or clinical experience preferred.

Schedule

• 40 hours per week
• Rotating days, Monday–Friday (7a–3p, 8a–4p)
• Rotating weekends and holidays

Pay

Hiring pay range: $29.61 – $48.70 per hour