Registered Dietitian, Per Diem – Hartford

About the role

Provides medical nutrition therapy to pediatric patients (from infancy to age 18 years) who may be well or acutely, critically and chronically ill. Serves as a resource for caregivers, patients, and their families.

Responsibilities

• Evidenced Based Clinical Practice - Assess the nutritional status of inpatients and as necessary, outpatients at very high or high risk. This includes: history; lab review and interpretation; nutrition focused physical exam including but not limited to: heights, weights, skin folds and head measurements; medication analysis; disease analysis and educational needs of the patient and caregivers/family.
  • Develop, document and implement the nutritional plan based on the assessment results.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary team rounds to promote nutritional care.
  • Serve as a community resource, especially for home care and area pediatricians.
• Education/Life Long Learning - Provide education and counseling to caregivers, pediatric patients, and their families. Provide education to MD's, RN's and other disciplines as needed. Round with physicians to provide advice, monitor patient status and make adjustments to therapy as needed. Provide guidance and instruction to diet technicians and nutrition assistants. Serve as a mentor/trainer for new staff and dietetic interns.
  • Develop and present educational in-services to the medical team.
• Process Improvement - Participates fully in all department QI activities and maintains monthly stats and reports. Complete interdisciplinary chart audits and peer reviews. Identify clinical safety issues and/or department business or efficiency issues and communicate to appropriate stakeholders.

Qualifications

• EDUCATION REQUIRED: Bachelor or Masters of Science in Nutrition or completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics in accordance with Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics leading to registration eligibility.
• Position Specific Experience: Two to Five years pediatric experience preferred.
• Position Specific Job License And/or Certification Required: American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider required within 6 months of hire. Registered Dietitian (R.D.) with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics preferred and required within 6 months of hire. CT State Certification (CD-N) is required on hire, exception is new grad required within 6 months of hire. Registration eligibility is that established by the Committee on Dietetic Registration and may include Completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics along with Accredited Dietetic Internship Program OR Accredited Coordinated Program.