Dietitian Per Diem

About the role

Everyone Is a Caregiver At UMass Memorial Health, regardless of their title or responsibilities, everyone plays an important part in providing exceptional patient care, academic excellence, and leading-edge research.

Responsibilities

• Screens patients according to level of need, assigns level of care and performs nutritional assessments of patients in assigned unit and/or clinic.
• Recommends modified diets and/or provides nutrition support by recommending parenteral and enteral nutrition based on diagnoses and lab data.
• Calculates nutrient content and recommends appropriate feeding regimen based on patient status.
• Interacts with other members of health care team, such as physician, registered nurse and pharmacist, to facilitate and deliver effective patient care.
• Formulates nutrition care plan using laboratory and anthropometric data, medical diagnosis, clinical condition, and documents findings in medical record within designated time frame using the Nutrition Care Process.
• Writes Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) orders in accordance with UMMMC Center-Wide Policy 2524 (Registered Dietitian/Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (RD-LDN) Order Writing).
• Participates in medical rounds and patient care rounds on a daily or weekly basis as appropriate and recommends changes in nutrition care plan.
• Provides education and in-service to physicians, medical students, nursing, other members of the health care team, schools and community groups and regarding the impact of nutrition in specific disease states and conditions.
• Provides education and counseling to patients and families regarding their nutritional needs.
• Maintains required documentation of patient care in accordance with professional standards.
• Participates in training of college or graduate students from approved affiliations.
• Completes assigned projects in clinical and administrative areas as necessary and in a timely manner.
• Participates in quality improvement data collection and documents trends for assuring optimal nutritional care.
• Participates as an active member of the Nutrition Advisory Committee or other Medical Center wide committees, as requested.
• Identifies community resources and makes referrals for continuity of nutrition care after discharge.
• May assist with managerial administrative responsibilities.
• May participate in research projects as available and submits articles for publication to professional journals or community resources.

Qualifications

• Licenses/Certifications/Education Required: Master’s Degree in Nutrition, Science, Business or related field if eligible for initial registration on or after January 1st, 2024. If hired prior to January 1, 2024, a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Science, Business or related field is acceptable. Current registration with Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency of the AND. Massachusetts state license (LDN) is required for outpatient dietitian positions upon hire. Massachusetts state license (LDN) is required for inpatient dietitian positions upon hire or to be obtained within 6 months of hire or will be subject to termination.
• Experience/Skills Required: Ability to influence the quality of patient care in an advisory capacity to the physician and other health care team members. Demonstrated skill in analyzing problems and making decisions. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

Physical Demands And Environmental Conditions

Work is considered sedentary. Position requires work indoors in a patient care environment.

Environmental Conditions

Flexible Hours

Benefits

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.