Job Description: Nutritionist

The Nutritionist is responsible for developing and overseeing nutrition and diet and programs to ensure the company’s compliance with legal and ethical standards. They are responsible for managing adherence to federal and state laws, regulatory guidelines, Joint Commission, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements. The individual will work closely with many departments to ensure that dietary operations adhere to internal policies and external regulations.

Nutritionist Job Responsibilities:

• Ensures clients’ menu selections are in compliance with prescribed diet order, nutritional adequacy, age, cultural background, and religious practice.
• Writes and modifies menus as needed according to client diet prescription using established resources/guidelines.
• Obtains menu choices from clients via phone order or client visitation.
• Ensures meal orders have been transmitted to correct location for meal preparation.
• Processes patient menu selections utilizing computerized diet office system.
• Updates, monitors, and follows-up on all pertinent client information like diet order changes, food allergies, food preferences, and requests.
• Prints and processes client food service reports, including meal census and food tally report.
• Records all assigned data such as client meal census and floor stock requests on paper logs or spreadsheet.
• Resolves client requests and complaints or relays to appropriate staff.
• Directs members and staff of Food and Nutrition Services office.
• Assists with delivery service as needed, including assembling patient trays, loading carts, and delivering meals to patients.
• Serves as a dietary resource for nursing and other staff.
• Resolves problems with patient trays.
• Provides general information on diet utilizing approved materials and resources.

Nutritionist Qualifications / Skills:

• Promoting dietary health
• Health promotion and maintenance
• Creating a safe, effective environment
• Legal compliance
• Bedside manner
• Teamwork and team management
• Listening, analyzing information, and focusing on quality

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in food, nutrition, food service management, or related field
• Registered Dietitian (RD) by Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) by the American Dietetic Association (ADA)
• Food Handler’s permit or ServeSafe certification as per state requirements

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, write and speak English fluently.
• Bi-lingual abilities preferred.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Computer Skills:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Electronic Health Records; Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.