Registered Dietitian

Your Job Summary

The Registered Dietrician will be responsible for planning meal programs and coordinating nutritional care of patients. Provides guidance and collaborates with the food service management in the provision of food and nutrition services. Exercises specialized knowledge for the nutrition needs of patients, provides guidance in food preparation and menu planning, counseling patients, and administering therapeutic diets.

Qualifications Required
• High School diploma
• Successful completion of the CDR's Registration Examination for Dietitians.
• Bachelor's degree or other advanced degree in dietetics Registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and license or certification by the state where he/she practices, if required. • Minimum of 2 years work experience in long-term care preferred

Your Responsibilities
• Works collaboratively with the food service director in communicating information about patient care and provision of food and nutrition services; supports Dietary Management and personnel in meeting a level of nutrition care for residents in the center.
• Uses the Company forms and guidelines for nutritional care of patients in the Dietary Procedures Manual and relevant clinical practice guides.
• Develop healthy and nutritional diets for patients recovering from illness. Ensures physician's orders are followed making recommendations for changes as needed.
• Assess and identify risk factors of malnutrition and intervene with the appropriate individualized nutrition care.
• Embraces and supports person-centered care by involving residents in choices about food and dining, food selections, dinning locations, and mealtimes.
• Completes nutritional assessments, MDSs, CAAs and care plans using PCC the electronic health record system.
• Participates with the interdisciplinary team concerning patients' plan of care during care conferences.
• Checks patients' progress toward meeting nutritional goals and determines effectiveness of nutritional care plan; documents outcome in progress notes and adjusts care plans as needed.
• Audits patient information in Dietary eKardex, the company electronic systems for current and accurate patient food, nutrition and dining information.
• Adapts services to take into consideration the preferences of patients and to develop processes to provide individualized diets when standard diets do not meet patient needs.
• Reviews weight records routinely and communicates variances to interdisciplinary team.
• Makes enteral feeding recommendations that are consistent with policies and procedures.
• Communicates patient nutrition information using the Twenty-Four-Hour Report, tools, and other center communication systems.
• Adheres to The Company's "Documentation Guidelines for the Clinical Record."
• Ensures compliance with nutritional standards, government regulations, and center policies and procedures.
• Uses sound professional judgment and standards of professional practice at all times; brings to the center information on current research and trends in the profession.
• Utilizes Point Click Care and other center electronic systems appropriately.
• Communicates with nursing service, physicians, physician extenders, dietary personnel, patients, families and other disciplines concerning patient nutritional care.
• Submits required reports to administrator as requested.
• Conducts periodic staff meetings.
• Follows guidelines for food safety and sanitation in the Company Dietary Procedures Manual and state and federal codes and regulations.
• Provides oversight in the maintenance of standards for safe food handling following center policies and procedures, local and state food codes and state and federal regulations.
• Maintains required local or state food safety credentials.
• Coordinates with food service director to conduct safe food handling training of dietary staff.
• Performs regular audits of dietary services to ensure safe food handling.
• Formulate successful strategies to increase nutritional value in patients' diets.
• May oversees and ensures accuracy of nutritional care done by registered dietitians, diet technicians or other dietetic professionals.
• Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or assigned at any time with or without notice.

OPCO Skilled Management provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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