NUTRITIONIST

JOB SUMMARY:  Under the general direction of the Director of Healthcare Quality, the Nutritionist counsels individuals and groups on nutritional practices designed to prevent disease and promote health.  The Nutritionist evaluates individual needs, develop nutritional care plans, and instruct individuals and their families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

1. Provides nutritional counseling on an individual basis upon referral by clinicians as a part of the clinical treatment plan. 
2. Provides nutritional counseling for groups of patients needing ongoing assistance with management of a specific nutritional problem as a part of the overall clinical treatment plan.
3. Develops and implements new nutrition programs and services based on patient’s needs.
4. Serves as a consultant to the healthcare clinicians in the prevention and treatment of patients with clinical problems which have a nutritional component.
5. Serves as a consultant to physicians in the medical clinics in the management of diabetic patients.
6. Develops and maintains print and non-print educational materials on nutritional topics for use by students and clinicians.
7. Provides in-service educational programs for clinicians on nutritional topics as needed.
8. Provide nutrition services and medical nutrition therapy integrated with the patient's medical goals.
9.  Evaluate, interpret, monitor and document the nutritional status and nutritional needs of hospitalized patients and out patients using established standards of care and practice guidelines.
10. Identify and provide age-specific nutrition counseling to meet the cultural needs of the patients and their families.
11. Develop, review, update and implement educational materials to meet the needs of patients and professionals.
12. Function as an integral member of the clinical interdisciplinary team.
13. Maintain registered dietitian (RD) status and licensure, including continuing professional educational requirement.
14. Performs related work as required.
     

The preceding examples are representative of the assignments performed by this position and are not intended to be all-inclusive.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION REQUIREMENTS:  Must provide the very best customer satisfaction to patients, volunteers, visitors, and co-workers at all time in a professional and courteous manner. Provide assistance in resolving customers’ problems.  Coordinates efforts and interfaces with other departments to resolve problems.  Actively protects customer confidentiality.  Actively keeps environment clean and safe with a professional and welcoming image.  Always treats customers as welcome guests and provides a warm and sincere greeting.  Consistently presents a professional appearance in dress and grooming by adherence to dress code policy.  Effectively and regularly demonstrates the values of the organization.  Effectively involves customers in decisions that affect them.  Follow through in a timely manner of commitments made to customers.  Taking ownership of your attitude toward Service Excellence

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:  Performance will be evaluated through periodic conferences and the observation of program results by the Director of Healthcare Quality annually wherein a satisfactory overall rating is considered as a minimum acceptable level of performance.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:    The health and safety requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

1. Must adhere to safety regulations, personnel policies and procedures.
2. Safety and Hazard Communication training update is required annually.
3. Knowledgeable of OSHA and CLIA requirements to assure compliance.
4. Maintain yearly health maintenance records by obtaining TB skin testing and completion of the hepatitis series.

PRIVACY RULE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS:  

1. Adheres to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA Privacy Rule) policies and procedures.
2. Must successfully complete Privacy Rule compliance training annually or as revisions are made to the policies and procedures.
3. Must comply with Privacy Rule guidelines by learning to protect FPHC patient’s medical privacy.
4. Must comply with Privacy Rule guidelines by appropriately maintaining our patient information in compliance with national standards.
5. Must comply with Privacy Rule guidelines by providing appropriate security of FPHC patient records.

PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) ACCESS:  For purposes of HIPAA Compliance, there are 4 workforce categories, which define the level of access to PHI that is granted to the incumbent.  This position is classified as PRIMARY PROVIDERS and therefore is granted UNRESTRICTED access- to be defined according to the purpose for which use or disclosure is intended.  Use and disclosure must be in accordance with applicable privacy policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:  Graduate of an accredited college or university with an advanced degree in nutrition or its equivalent in education and experience or a bachelor's degree in nutrition with licensure as a registered dietitian; or any equivalent combination of training and experience.
 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of nutritional care and counseling.  Possess skill in planning a variety of nutrition education programs.  Possess skill in involving potential program users in the program activities.  Possess the ability to identify nutrition education needs and to develop appropriate programs to meet those needs.  Possess the ability to communicate ideas effectively, orally and in writing.  Have the ability to deal effectively with individuals and groups and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and staff.
 

CERTIFICATION, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Registered Dietitian (RD); Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist; CPR Certification

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:

1. Requires working under stressful conditions.
2. Must be able to express ideas clearly and concisely; and exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions.
3. Work requires sitting, standing, stooping, bending, driving, walking, and reading.
4. Must be able to lift and move patients as needed.
5. Requires the ability to see up close and ability to adjust focus.