Registered Dietitian

WOOSTER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL JOB DESCRIPTION

REGISTERED DIETITIAN

MAIN FUNCTION:

• Provide nutrition counseling/education for in-patients, outpatients, and their family members in an efficient, professional and caring manner.
• Responsible for assuring effective communication with patients, support persons and members of the health care team.
• Responsible for providing nutrition care of patients using the nutrition care process.
• Acts in compliance with hospital, Nutrition Services department policy and procedure and Ohio rules governing the practice of dietetics.
• Follow appropriate service standards as outlined in the employee handbook.
• Understands and acts in compliance with all departmental policies and procedures, the Practice of Dietetics Licensure Act of the State of Ohio, and the Standards of Practice of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

RESPONSIBLE TO:             Clinical Nutrition Manager

MUST HAVE REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate of an education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education.
• Provides nutritional care according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Practice.
• Registered or registry eligible Dietitian status.
• Licensed to practice in Ohio or must have applied for licensure upon passing RD exam.
• Good standing with the State Medical Board of Ohio and Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Must obtain and maintain Medical Staff credentialing

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Required weekend on-call hours, some evening assignments, involvement in staffing health fairs, special events.
• Subject to short term hour reduction (STHR) according to policy.
• One-year clinical experience in health care facility or proof of clinical rotation experience through schooling program.
• Employees in this position may be exposed to blood, body fluids and/or airborne pathogens and are required to wear barriers.

POSITION EXPECTATIONS:  All expectations detailed below are considered ADA (American Disabilities Act) Essential.

Leadership:

1. Effectively implements the nutrition care process.
2. Embraces teamwork by working together with co-workers.
3. Accepts and responds to change productively, while maintaining a positive attitude.
4. Demonstrates appropriate workplace behavior and competencies in job duties.
5. Demonstrates basic conflict resolution skills.

Communication:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in clinical documentation; timeliness, content, appropriateness of recommendations.
2. Adjust teaching techniques and content on patient/client feedback and current resource information.
3. Communicate with other hospital employees to help avoid any possible disruptions in service.
4. Demonstrate knowledge in all areas of clinical nutrition and act as a Nutrition Professional with other staff, other department staff, physicians, etc.
5. Demonstrate strong verbal and written skills.
6. Maintains awareness of verbal/nonverbal communication in interactions with staff, other departments, physicians, patients and families.
7. Maintains patient confidentiality in all communication interactions: written, verbal, electronic and digital.
8. Collaborates and communicates effectively with all members of the health care team.
9. Utilizes AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Expectations, Thank you) strategies to foster positive communication.
10. Demonstrates acceptance of supervisory authority, guidance and instruction.   Follows appropriate chain of command.

Operations/Maintains Appropriate Clinical Skills:

1. Conduct nutrition counseling to patients, family or groups according to need, age, and specified nutrition topic in keeping with the American Dietetic Association’s Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Practice.
2. Adhere to department policy and procedure regarding nutrition intervention.
3. Coordinate work to achieve maximum productivity.  Able to multitask and prioritize workload.  Work habits are consistently adjusted to accommodate multiple responsibilities and are prioritized and completed in a timely manner.
4. Conducts nutrition care, including assessments, nutrition diagnosis and plans of care per current standards of care, in a timely and efficient manner using appropriate resources.

1. Recognize and perform duties that are necessary to the operation to prevent possible disruptions in service.
2. Demonstrate reasonable and rational judgment in decision making.
3. Other duties as assigned by manager.

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Customer Service:

1. Demonstrates flexibility in scheduling to best meet the needs for all patients and clients.
2. Displays positive attitude.  Treats others with honesty and respect.  Speaks positively in all customer interactions internal and external.
3. Uses AIDET to optimize the patient’s experience by reducing the patient and family’s anxiety and increasing the patient’s compliance.
4. Uses AIDET to develop positive relationships with other departments to foster patient satisfaction.

Staff Development / Professional Growth:

1. Demonstrates initiative and responsibility to develop personal, leadership and career goals – as well as maintaining credentialing status.
2. Function as a student preceptor for student dietitians/dietetic technicians.
3. Demonstrate professional growth by attending conferences educational opportunities that apply to our patient/client demographics.
4. Participates in facility committees and projects as pertains to dietetics.
5. Demonstrates professional growth by maintaining awareness of changes in dietetics.

1. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of new policies and procedures, practices, changes in practice and initiatives.  Obtains this knowledge via staff meeting attendance, reading of communication, required hospital education, discussion with departmental leadership and peers.
2. Accept feedback as opportunity for growth.

Performance Improvement:

1. Participate in departmental process improvement activities and help create reporting tools as assigned.
2. Identify processes to be improved and communicate to management team.  Assists in data collection as directed.
3. Develop and maintain awareness of DNV, Centers for Medicare Services, Ohio Department of Health and other required quality and safety measures.
4. Develop and maintain ongoing understanding of current practice for the types of patients whom care is provided.

Rev: 7/2024