Clinical Dietitian I

Job Description

ECU Health

About ECU Health Medical Center

ECU Health Medical Center, one of four academic medical centers in North Carolina, is the 974-bed flagship hospital for ECU Health and serves as the primary teaching hospital for The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. ECU Health Medical Center has achieved Magnet designation twice and provides acute and intermediate care, rehabilitation and outpatient health services to a 29-county region that is home to more than 1.4 million people.

Position Summary

The Clinical Dietitian delivers direct, quality patient-centered care, with proficient clinical nutrition skill level and

knowledge base. The RDN plans and delivers nutritional care of patients throughout the life cycle in accordance with the physicians' diagnosis, requirements of regulatory agencies, and analysis of evidence-based literature.

Functions as an essential member of the interdisciplinary team to develop, coordinate, implement and evaluate patients' nutritional care plans. Provides safe, therapeutic, evidence-based care for designated patient coverage in accordance with Clinical Nutrition and ECU Health policies and procedures. Provides individualized, direct patient care within established ECU Health policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Participates and/or facilitates Optimal Care Path work groups and problem resolution activities, both within Clinical Nutrition Department and entity or system-wide task force, and safety huddles to review current practices, analyze trends, facilitate development and maintenance of nutrition-related programs/services to modify practices in a way that optimizes patient outcomes.

Performs data collection, analysis, and uses systematic performance improvement model based on knowledge/experience, evidence, research - science to monitor the quality and appropriateness of patient care.

May utilize tools such as Gap and SWOT analyses, and/or PDCA cycle for performance improvement. Develop nutrition best-practices as a result of QI data while considering safety, effectiveness, productivity and value.

Identifies opportunities for improvement through data collected within assigned projects or self-identified needs.

Demonstrates support of research in clinical nutrition practice through active participation in the collection, analysis, as well as interpretations of data for identified research projects.

Assists with on-the-job training of new dietitians, dietetic interns and students, and other employees to ensure an understanding of department policies and procedures and guidelines for clinical care.

Models Service Excellence behaviors. Practices and demonstrates work place courtesy toward customers and fellow staff members.

Demonstrates acceptable level of work habit behaviors.

Meets professional annual requirements.

Nutrition Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, Monitoring, and Evaluation (ADIME) of Patients

Assessment

Evaluates medical records to obtain necessary medical information such as anthropometrics, biochemical data, medical tests/procedures, patient history and socio-economic status to determine patient nutritional status and develop nutritional care plans. Applies scientific, theoretical knowledge, and critical thinking skills to the care of patients.

Performs Nutrition-focused Physical Assessments to assist in determining the nutritional status and macro- and micronutrient needs of patients.

Assesses patient nutritional status according to ECU Health standards as well as the Nutrition Care Process (IDNT) using standardized language to develop appropriate nutritional care plans.

The RDN may assess, when needed, the nutrition needs for transplant donor/recipients to include: individualized nutrition needs, nutrition risk, diet education, and plan of care.

Diagnosis

The RDN identifies specific nutrition problem(s)/diagnosis. Using standardized language via the Nutrition Care Process, the nutrition diagnosis identifies the nutrition problem, etiology, and signs and symptoms that correlate to the nutrition problem. The nutrition diagnosis is re-evaluated upon follow-up and revised as needed.

Interventions and Plan of Care

The RDN will consult with referring provider and/or medical staff and other interdisciplinary team members on utilizing appropriate nutritional intervention/methods to improve patient nutrition status via intentional/planned interventions with the purpose of changing a nutrition-related behavior, impacting risk factors and environmental challenges/barriers, and assisting with discharge planning or post-visit connection to ECU Health or community services.

Acts as a patient advocate in representing their nutrition needs by participating actively in patient-centered rounds, patient care conferences, and interdisciplinary team meetings when available, as a member of the health care team.

Recognizes and anticipates nutrition needs and recommends changes based on advanced level, evidence-based practice experience and coordinates/communicates with appropriate resources when needed.

Documentation of recommendations will be recorded in the patient medical record according to ECU Health policy for communicating with physicians and interdisciplinary team members.

Modifies diet orders and places orders as deemed appropriate per nutrition assessment and according to ECU Health order modification policy.

Provides nutrition education/counseling to patients and families as ordered by physician, or as deemed necessary based upon the nutrition assessment.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The RDN continuously monitors and evaluates outcomes related to the nutrition diagnosis, plan/goals, and interventions implemented to determine progress towards achieving the desired patient outcome from nutrition care. The RDN should

proficiently determine the need for further interventions, or revision of the nutrition care plan.

Will document and revise the nutrition plan of care based on the evaluation, via ECU Health policy and procedure.

Maintains effective working relationships with other disciplines, such as medical, nursing, case management, pharmacy, speech, occupational, physical therapy and exercise specialists to provide a unified team approach to management of nutrition care.

Revisions to patient care may include collaboration with outside referrals such as home care agencies, nutrition services and other providers for optimal continuity of care.

Patient care may include consultation /visits to outpatient clinics and community outreach to provide optimal continuity of care and educate the patient population.

Identifies learning needs of self, patients, and other interdisciplinary team members.

Maintains and documents professional development activities in accordance with professional organization and ECU Health Medical Center policy. The RDN is self-driven to seek out education opportunities that will advance their nutrition practices.

Assists with drug-nutrient interaction education so that patients receive maximum benefit from drugs and diet.

Provides nutrition counseling and education to patients and/or family as ordered by the physician or deemed necessary by integrating knowledge of food/nutrition and knowledge of health, socio-economic status, communication skills and literacy; develops and teaches group classes for a variety of populations.

Provides in-service training programs and presentations for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, exercise specialists, health educators, and others by presenting journal articles, case studies, or teaching classes to enhance nutrition education and understanding amongst the interdisciplinary team.

May provide formal/regularly scheduled education programs to support Medical Student and Resident education such as monthly nutrition orientation, class days, grand rounds, and any other course work as deemed beneficial.

Enhances nutrition knowledge proficiency through continuing education to ensure application of current research information and methods to nutrition practice.

Serves as a resource to all types of students including supervising dietetic rotations and providing nutrition rotations for interdisciplinary fellowships as needed.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's Degree or higher in Dietetics or Food and Nutrition or related field is required.

Successful completion of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) approved dietetic internship or equivalent AND practicum experience.

Zero years of experience as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

RDN, LDN, or successful completion of RDN exam and obtain NC License within 3 months of hire is required.

General Statement

It is the goal of ECU Health and its entities to employ the most qualified individual who best matches the requirements for the vacant position.

Offers of employment are subject to successful completion of all pre-employment screenings, which may include an occupational health screening, criminal record check, education, reference, and licensure verification.

We value diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Decisions of employment are made based on business needs, job requirements and applicant's qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other status protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint.

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