Registered Dietitian
About the role
Assesses patient/resident nutritional status. Develops, implements and monitors appropriate therapies indicated by nutritional risks/nutritional status. This position serves patients of all ages, from infant to geriatric.
Northfield Hospital + Clinics is a trusted, independent healthcare system with more than 1,000 employees. We’re recognized for our collaborative work environment and strong commitment to high-quality patient care and community impact. We’re proud to be named to Becker’s 2025 list of "100 Great Community Hospitals." Our services span the full spectrum of hospital and clinical care, with our main hospital located in Northfield, MN, and primary and specialty clinics in Northfield, Lakeville, Farmington, Faribault, and Kenyon—along with Urgent Care locations in Northfield, Lakeville, and Farmington. We offer care across 48 specialties and serve patients at 22 locations throughout the south metro and southern Minnesota. Whether you're just starting your career or bringing years of experience, you'll find meaningful opportunities, supportive teams, and a chance to make a real difference here.
Responsibilities
- Patient assessment: Assesses the patient’s nutritional status and screen for potential risks, complying with Medicare regulations when appropriate. Ascertain patient diet history, anthropometrics, and pertinent lab values. Estimates macronutrient need based on basal energy expenditure (BEE), oral, anabolic, enteral, parenteral and degree of metabolic stress.
- Patient care planning: Uses professional judgment and critical thinking to prepare, prioritize and execute the patient’s plan of care consistent with patient assessment data and physician’s treatment plans and professional standards of evidence-based practice. Directs and delegates nutritional support personnel in implementing a nutritional plan of care, provides supervision and guidance. Participates in patient discharge planning and care conference meetings communicating care issues.
- Patient interventions: Implements appropriate feeding modality, diet or nutrition support (enteral, parenteral, etc.). Monitors patient response to daily nutritional intake, noting preferences and special needs, making appropriate recommendations for nutritional intervention as necessary. May assist in planning patient menus and/or menu modification according to the approved diet manual.
- Evaluation of care: Evaluates and documents patient’s response to nutritional care and modifies or revises treatment plans, and/or contacts physicians as circumstances require. Documentation reflects evaluation of patient/response to dietician nutritionist actions.
- Provides patient/community/staff education: Provides and documents patient/family education based on diagnosis, treatment plan or prescribed medical regimen in accordance with patient/family readiness and ability to learn. Educate or assist in training of NH+C medical, nursing and general staff; health care students and community-based on nutritional care needs. Act as an advocate and liaison with nursing, medical and other interdisciplinary staff to provide optimal communication and enhance patient nutritional care and education. Extends nutritional education to the community setting.
- Billing: Responsible for compiling and assessing patient charges as appropriate.
- Clinical Practice Knowledge: Maintain clinical nutrition policies based on latest evidence-based practice.