Regional Registered Dietitian

About the Role

The Regional Registered Dietitian (RD) coordinates all phases of nutritional care while collaborating and communicating with contracted food service vendors, dietary managers, physicians, and nursing staff at designated facilities in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Idaho.

Nutritional care includes nutrition assessment of all at-risk patients, care planning, monitoring, and diet education as appropriate. The RD provides guidance to dietary managers and monitors nutrition departments for compliance with food safety and sanitation regulations. All duties are performed in accordance with Joint Commission, Federal and State regulations, Oceans' Mission, policies and procedures, and Performance Improvement Standards.

Responsibilities

• Regularly visits assigned facilities to monitor nutrition services processes.
• Interprets nutrition screening to identify patients at nutrition risk and directs nutrition care.
• Conducts nutrition assessments using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) to establish and support nutrition diagnoses, prescriptions, and care plans based on medical history, nutrition history, anthropometric measures, biochemical tests, and clinical status.
• Implements and supports nutrition care planning, including nutrition interventions such as therapeutic diets, oral nutrition supplements, and diet education as appropriate.
• Monitors nutrition care plans and adjusts interventions based on progress to promote achievement of nutrition goals.
• Documents and maintains records according to the Standards of Practice for the RD, legislation, regulations, and organizational policies.
• Collaborates with patients, caregivers, and other health care professionals regarding patient care recommendations.
• Communicates recommendations to leadership regarding quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborates and communicates with contracted food service vendors, dietary managers, physicians, and nursing staff regarding all areas of nutritional care.
• Evaluates and approves patient menus and nutritional supplements based on regulations, dietary guidelines, patient acceptability, and operational capabilities.
• Observes meal service for adherence with policies and procedures, as well as regulatory compliance.
• Provides guidance to the dietary manager regarding nutritional care and food safety/sanitation regulations.
• Monitors nutrition departments for compliance with food safety and sanitation regulations and conducts nutrition service audits.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in Food and Nutrition, Dietetics, or Nutritional Sciences.
• Successful completion of an ACEND-approved dietetic internship, didactic program, coordinated program, or graduate program.
• Current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• State licensure as required by state law.
• Five years of experience in food service management or clinical nutrition is preferred.

Qualifications

• Must comply with applicable laws and regulations related to the area(s) of practice, including registration and state licensure as required.
• Must be able to read, write, and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Must work well with diverse populations.
• Must utilize age, disability, and cultural-specific knowledge in working with specialized populations to best communicate with those clients.
• Must successfully complete an Oceans-approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Work Environment

• Subject to many interruptions and pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.
• Can be high-paced and stressful; must be able to cope mentally and physically with the atmosphere.
• Requires spending approximately 90% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.