Registered Dietician

About the Role

This position works with the medical team to provide optimal medical nutrition therapy to all patients, including infants, pediatrics, adults, and geriatrics. The role collaborates with other department members to improve food service and quality care to patients.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive, high-quality medical nutrition therapy to patients.
• Complete physician-ordered consults and instructions according to standards of care and document in the medical record.
• Contact the physician regarding any concerns, recommendations, or other relevant matters.
• Document NPO/Clear Liquid notes by day five; follow up until nutrition is provided (unless contraindicated).
• Complete and document calorie counts accurately; document a summary of calorie counts within 24 hours if results warrant nutritional recommendations.
• Calculate and report results of nitrogen balance and metabolic cart studies accurately and in a timely manner.
• Complete and document 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, or parenteral nutrition orders.
  • Assessment of laboratory values, drug-nutrient interactions, medical history, and current nutritional needs.
  • Nutrition education needs, care plan development, and writing orders in the electronic medical record when nutrition intervention is needed.
• Utilize Order Writing Privileges (with physician co-signature) when the physician orders the “MNT Protocol,” allowing the RD/LD to order Medical Nutrition Therapies within their scope of practice.
• Complete and document follow-up to assessments and consults according to standards.
• Attend local or national meetings/conferences as required for accreditation or physician-requested attendance.
• Provide guidance and supervise daily activities of the nutritional therapy support team, including difficult or unusual diet orders, tube feeding calculations, and infant formula calculations.
• Document potential/actual errors or harmful interactions with patients or staff committed by NCAs on assigned units.
• Provide intervention and participate in disciplinary actions as appropriate.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurse managers, and nursing staff to improve medical nutrition therapy, including diet texture changes, appropriate foods for aspiration risk, and timing of medications.
• Address patient food complaints, provide alternative selections, and follow up on food quality issues.
• Review and update clinical rotation assignments annually to reflect changes in practice and feedback from interns.
• Develop and teach classes regarding areas of specialization to interns (e.g., renal nutrition, oncology, nutrition support).
• Monitor interns to ensure they meet standards before leaving them unsupervised.
• Review and co-sign all intern documentation in the medical record.
• Correct assignments and evaluate progress within two weeks of the end of the rotation.
• Attend and evaluate intern case study presentations.
• Develop and present in-services to healthcare personnel, food service personnel, and students as requested.
• Develop and present lectures to community groups as requested.

Requirements

• Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) through the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Current licensure as required by the state board where services will be provided:
  • West Virginia: Licensed Dietitian through the West Virginia Board of Licensed Dietitians.
  • Maryland: Licensed Dietitian through the State Board of Dietetic Practice.
  • Ohio: Licensed Dietitian through the Ohio Board of Dietetics.
• State criminal background check and federal background check (if applicable) for regulated areas.

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) year of clinical experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Basic math skills, including addition and subtraction.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to organize work and handle concentrated mental activity.
• Ability to respond to changes in work volume throughout the shift.
• Ability to work Saturdays and some holidays; occasional evening meetings may be required.
• Ability to interact positively with co-workers, patients, family, and other members of the medical team.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

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

Working Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Majority of work is performed in patient care units.
• Some work in office, classroom, and meeting room settings.
• Occasional community speaking engagements.

Schedule

Scheduled weekly hours: 40