Northern Light Mercy Hospital

Department: Clinical Dietitians

Position is located: Mercy Fore River

Work Type: Part Time Eligible

Hours Per Week: 32 Hours per week

Work Schedule: 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM

Summary:

Under the supervision of the Manager of Clinical Nutrition and the daily direction of the Clinical Dietitians and Technicians, the Nutrition Care Associate is responsible for the nutritional care of all infant through geriatric inpatients. Duties include accurate and timely order entry using an electronic ordering system, answering patient calls in the call center, patient visitation, menu collection, and menu selection assistance. Duties may also include preparation and delivery of nourishments and enteral formulas as well as producing reports for patient meal service. The incumbent performs duties and tasks in accordance with performance standards established for the job. The incumbent may have access to highly confidential patient, employee and/or proprietary information, and must handle and protect the information in accordance with hospital and system policies, HIPAA requirements and the highest level of ethical standards. The incumbent is responsible for reporting all security events, potential events, or other security risks to the organization.The incumbent is responsible for participation in and completion of all patient safety initiatives appropriate to the position and conducts all job responsibilities according to the Mission and Values of the Hospital.

Responsibilities:

1. Technical Skills: The Nutrition Care Associate is able to perform the technical responsibilities according to department standards and guidelines.

• Call center coverage

• Accesses Cerner, Computrtition and Cisco Room Service Agent

• Answers calls for Room Service patients admitted to the Fore River and State Street.

• Takes patient meal orders and enters the orders into Computrition.

• Prints reports for production and meal tallies

• Faxes reports to the units as needed

• Reviews any questions regarding special diets or requests with dietetic technician or clinical dietitian.

• Tube feeding and nourishment preparation/delivery/billing.

• Prepare and deliver all enteral feeding products.

• Works with dietetic technicians and dietitians to enter nourishments into the computer system.

• Quality Assurance

• Participates in QA/QI initiatives of department.

• Teamwork with diet office/food service staff.

• Establishes a sense of team work with food service staff to ensure quality nutritional care is provided to patients.

• Works collaboratively with dietetic technicians and dietitians to carry out nutrition care plan from menu collection, to preparation and delivery of patient nourishments.

• Other duties as outlined on the “Timeline for Room Service”

2. Response to service demands: The Nutrition Care Associate is able to work with minimal direction and is able to reprioritize work as assigned to meet the demands of patient care.

• Maintains positive attitude in response to change.

• Adjusts to changes needed and maintains productivity.

• Willing to assist coworkers in balancing priorities

• Takes the initiative to follow through on nutritional care plan and reviews with dietetic technician or dietitian when questions arise

• Makes suggestions to clinical staff to improve patient’s intake when they are not taking meals or snacks.

3. Verbal communications: The Nutrition Care Associate demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels in the organization, patients, visitors, etc.

• Demonstrates the ability to effectively handle phone calls in the diet office.

• Utilizes communication skills to resolve problems, listens and clarifies information to seek positive solutions.

• Follows up on information to maintain consistent patient care.

4. Group collaboration: The Nutrition Care Associate collaborates with other members of the clinical nutrition staff on nutritional care options.

• Demonstrates the ability to make suggestions to improve patient care outcomes.

• Accepts and respects the opinions of others.

5. Self-Development/Professional Growth: The Nutrition Care Associate maintains current knowledge about the nutritional care provided to patients.

• Attends department meetings and in-services to keep up-to-date on changes that affect their position. If unable to attend the meeting, the minutes must be reviewed and signed within a reasonable time frame.

6. Performs additional duties as required or assigned.

Other Information :

Competencies and Skills

• Behaves with Integrity and Builds Trust: Acts consistently in line with the core values, commitments and rules of conduct. Leads by example and tells the truth. Does what they say they will, when and how they say they will, or communicates an alternate plan.
• Cultivates Respect: Treats others fairly, embraces and values differences, and contributes to a culture of diversity, inclusion, empowerment and cooperation.
• Fosters Accountability: Creates and participates in a work environment where people hold themselves and others accountable for processes, results and behaviors. Takes appropriate ownership not only of successes but also mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. Demonstrates understanding that we all work as a team and the quality and timeliness of work impacts everyone involved.
• Practices Compassion: Exhibits genuine care for people and is available and ready to help; displays a deep awareness of and strong willingness to relieve the suffering of others.

Education

• Required High School Diploma/General Educational Development (GED)

Working Conditions

• Work with computers, typing, reading or writing.
• Lifting, moving and loading 20 to 30 pounds.
• Prolonged periods of sitting.
• Prolonged periods of walking.