Registered Dietitian Inpatient

About the role

The Inpatient Clinical Dietitian (Registered Dietitian) at [Hospital Name] is responsible for assessing and coordinating medical nutrition therapy and nutrition education activities for patients. They plan and provide nutritional care to patients by interpreting and adapting physician prescribed diets and nutrition support interventions to individual needs.

Responsibilities

• Reviews MD prescription for patients' feedings and interviews patients to obtain information regarding nutrition history for guidance in planning diet or nutrition support interventions;
• Affirms nutritional status based on laboratory values, medical and nutritional history and medical/surgical condition;
• Develops nutritional care plans based on this information in accordance with accepted AND standards of practice and written department protocols;
• Documents in the electronic health record (EHR) using the nutrition care process, consults with physicians regarding possible changes in diet orders or enteral nutrition regimens;
• Develops and plans individual diet therapy including necessary supplements and tube feedings;
• Maintains record of all patients seen and recommended therapeutic action, makes referrals for follow-up nutritional care when appropriate;
• Makes nutritional support assessments (including intravenous or other peripheral nutrition solutions) as assigned;
• Assesses nutritional status based on laboratory values, medical and nutritional history and medical/surgical condition; develops nutritional care plans based on this information in accordance with accepted AND standards of practice;
• Consults with physicians regarding managing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, suggesting interventions to help improve oral intake and assisting with GI-related interventions as needed;
• Performs Nutrition Focused Physical Exams (NFPE) on all patients, as able, to assess for malnutrition diagnosis and micronutrient deficiencies;
• Instructs patients and their families, singularly and in groups, regarding diet therapy after hospitalization;
• Participates in multidisciplinary discharge planning rounds to receive information on condition, treatment, and discharge planning of patients on assigned units; discusses dietary requirements, treatments, diet plans and case studies;
• Participates in daily rounds with medical/surgical teams as necessary;
• Meets with the nutrition support dietitian to discuss continuity of care for critically ill patients with stabilized conditions who become the responsibility of the staff dietitian;
• Participates as needed in the weekly multidisciplinary, Nutrition Support Rounds;
• Provides in-service education in nutrition to hospital personnel (i.e. nurses, medical students and residents); compiles and develops educational materials for use in individual and group classes;
• Acts as preceptor in the education/training of dietetic interns and medical staff;
• Provides nutritional care when consulted for several malnourished and/or critically ill patients; diagnoses malnutrition and documents in EHR using BMC approved malnutrition diagnostic criteria; utilizes the nutrition-focused physical exam to assess nutritional status; evaluates patient’s nutritional needs and develops nutritional care plan; determines solutions for total parenteral nutrition and tube feedings when appropriate and submit to MD for approval as well as chart in the medical records;
• Maintains patients throughout their course to assess nutritional status; i.e., reviews daily intake, laboratory values, anthropometrics and the nutrition focused physical exam; prepares diet plans for the patient’s transition from TPN or Tube feeding, to supplements and regular food.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required in Nutrition or related discipline (e.g. Public Health Nutrition, Dietetics/Nutrition Education, Exercise Physiology, Food and Nutrition, Food Safety, Food Science, Food Service System Management, Hospitality Management, Medical Nutrition Therapy/Human Nutrition, Nutrition Biochemistry/Metabolism, Nutrition Science, Sports Nutrition).
• Master’s Degree Preferred, But Not Required.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Required: Must have completed an approved dietetic internship or comparable alternate through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Must be credentialed as a Registered Dietitian (RD) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and maintain the registration status. Licensed (LDN) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure is required by the department. LDN (Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist) Preferred.
• Additional advanced board certifications preferred for complex patient population: Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition (CSPCC), Certified Pediatric Nutrition (CSP), Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM), Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), or other advanced board certification.

Qualifications

• General clinical understanding of metabolism in relation to clinical nutrition;
• Knowledge of food chemistry and macro/micro nutrient composition of foods;
• Interpersonal skills sufficient to explain nutritional care to patients and alleviate apprehensions, as well as effectively interact and communicate with physicians, fellows, nursing, etc.;
• High level of analytical skills to interpret laboratory data, identify and plan individual nutrition therapy and assess nutrition care plans and their physiologic effect;
• Basic computer proficiency inclusive of ability to access, enter, and interpret computerized data/information;
• Competent to provide nutrition support to assigned population group.

Skills

• Ability to work in a fast paced changing environment;
• Works occasional holidays and rotating weekends.

Benefits

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, and licensure/certifications directly related to position requirements. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), contract increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, earned time cash out, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family wellbeing.