Dietitian

$98,925 - $98,925/Yr

Legacy Health - Ridgefield, CT

Full-time - Entry Level

Ridgefield, CT

Hospitals

About the position

The Registered Dietitian plays a crucial role in enhancing patient health and recovery through clinical nutrition expertise. This position involves conducting nutrition assessments, providing education, and implementing interventions to improve patient outcomes. The dietitian will work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary care team, focusing on individualized patient care and adherence to evidence-based standards.

Responsibilities

• Screens patients for nutrition risk.
• Conducts nutrition assessments for patients at nutrition risk and for dietitian consults.
• Obtains and analyzes timely and appropriate data based on evidence-based standards.
• Assesses patients for malnutrition through nutrition-focused physical exams and relevant patient data.
• Writes nutrition orders per CMS guidelines, state regulations, and hospital policy.
• Practices standardized nutrition charting through the nutrition care process.
• Develops and implements individualized nutrition intervention plans according to medical program goals and objectives.
• May develop therapeutic plans for specialized nutrition support, including enteral and parenteral nutrition.
• Utilizes assessment techniques considering age-specific and cultural needs.
• Evaluates effectiveness and measures progress of medical nutrition therapy interventions.
• Reassesses nutrition care processes and implements changes as needed.
• Communicates with the medical team through interdisciplinary meetings and direct dialogue.
• Documents nutrition care plans in the electronic medical record, summarizing assessments, diagnoses, plans, and progress.
• Works cooperatively with food service staff to ensure diet prescription compliance.
• Maintains productivity standards and effective time management.
• Keeps accurate records of daily clinical activities for billing purposes.
• Manages resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Assists in developing patient education materials and clinical forms.
• Supports infection control, safety, risk management, and customer relations programs.
• Participates in achieving compliance with JCAHO standards.
• Participates in the orientation and training of new dietitians.
• Assesses educational needs and provides nutrition counseling for individuals and groups.
• Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by patients and families.
• Provides follow-up in accordance with treatment goals and refers patients as appropriate.
• Serves as a resource to medical staff on nutrition issues.
• Educates dietetic interns and conducts in-services for staff.
• Demonstrates support for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) principles.
• Identifies and collects performance improvement data and monitors outcomes.
• Participates in planning and developing nutrition-related policies and procedures.
• Maintains dietetic registration and state licensure, fulfilling continuing education requirements.
• Develops a plan for professional growth and development.

Requirements

• Registered Dietitian certification required.
• Applicable state licensure required.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms to patients, public, physicians, and interdisciplinary health care teams.
• Ability to function independently on assigned patient care units.
• General knowledge of nutrient analysis, word processing, and spreadsheet software.
• Basic familiarity with computers preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive pay range of USD$33.26 - USD$47.56 per hour.