Clinical Nutritionist

Applies principles of nutrition in monitoring nutritional status of hospital patients.

• Assures appropriate nutrition intervention occurs.
• Approves definitions of modified diets and patient menus as prescribed by the Medical Staff for patients with therapeutic diet needs.
• Provides instructions concerning therapeutic diets for patients and family.

Minimum Qualifications

• Registration eligible to be a Registered Dietician or Registered Dietician Nutritionist through the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Must pass registration exam within three (3) years of receiving state provisional license OR within 12 months of hire, whichever is sooner.
• Complete required supervised practice/experience through an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship, Coordinated Program, Graduate Program, OR an Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway offered through an ACEND-accredited program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a dietetic internship.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Evaluates anthropometric data for height and weight and changes in height and weight.
• Obtains and evaluates diet history information for nutritional significance.
• Completes physician ordered consults and instructions according to standards of care and documents in medical record.
• Contact the physician regarding any concerns, recommendations, etc. and documents NPO/Clear Liquid notes by day five; follow-up every two days until nutrition provided (unless contraindicated).
• Completes and documents calorie counts accurately and documents summary of calorie counts within 24 hours of completion if results warrant nutritional recommendations.
• Calculates and reports results of nitrogen balance and metabolic cart studies accurately and in a timely manner.
• Completes and documents nutrition assessments on high-risk patients according to standards of care; including but not limited to: appropriateness of diet to diagnosis, adequacy of current tube feeding, infant formula; assessment of laboratory values, drug-nutrient interactions, medical history, current nutritional needs, nutrition education needs, and care plan.
• Instructs patients/family members on diet for home by obtaining appropriate diet history information, combining diet information into one form for multiple diet restrictions, assessing knowledge after teaching, and following up before patient discharge when possible.
• Tailors teaching to specific needs of patient including visually impaired patients, stroke patients, etc.
• Attends meetings/conferences that physicians request dietitian attendance or those meetings/conferences required to maintain accreditation of hospital programs or foster partnership with other facilities.
• Acts on any patient food complaints, provides alternative selections and/or arrangements.
• Follows up with appropriate managers on food quality issues.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequent walking, sitting and standing, are necessary body movements to complete the work.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Majority of work is Performed in patient care units.
• Some office, classroom and meeting room work.
• Occasional community speaking.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must have ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must have basic math skills including addition and subtraction.
• Basic computer skills required.
• Concentrated mental activity is required to organize the work.
• Must be able to respond to changes in work volume throughout the shift.
• Must be able to work Saturdays and some holidays.
• May need to attend a meeting in the evening on occasion.
• Must be able to interact with co-workers, patients, family and other members of the medical team in a positive manner.

Additional Job Description

• Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
• Exempt/Non-Exempt Shift: United States of America (Exempt)
• Company: WH Wheeling Hospital Inc.
• Cost Center: 635 WH Clinical Dieticians
• Address: 1 Medical Park Drive Wheeling West Virginia
• Equal Opportunity Employer: West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.