Dietitian Nutrition Specialist

Job Summary:

The Dietitian Nutrition Specialist will provide nutritional care to all Residents of SKLD Whitehall through monitoring, care planning, and education. This role involves making recommended changes to the Resident's diet to help them reach their nutritional and medical goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Consult with physicians and healthcare personnel to assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions, and current health plans to develop, implement, and document nutrition care plans in PCC and provide nutritional counseling.
Advise residents and their families on nutritional principles, nutritional intervention plans, and diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
Monitor food service operations to ensure conformance to nutritional, safety, sanitation, and quality standards.
Provide nutrition services and medical nutrition therapy integrated with the Residents' medical goals.
Evaluate, interpret, monitor, and document the nutritional status and nutritional needs of Residents using established standards of care guidelines.
Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life and to meet the cultural needs of Residents.
Write diet orders as needed.
Investigate and address weight losses and weight gains in residents. Discuss resident weight differences with nursing management to address the issue. Follow up continually to ensure patient is meeting weight goals.
Function as a member of the clinical interdisciplinary team.
Complete assigned MDS portions accurately and on time.
Follow established safety precautions when performing tasks and using equipment and supplies.
Be able to effectively work with residents with various and altered mental statuses.
Maintain the comfort, privacy, and dignity of Residents and interact with them in a manner that displays warmth, respect, and promotes a caring environment.
Must answer and respond to call lights promptly and courteously when working in Residents' care areas.
Communicate and interact effectively and tactfully with Residents, visitors, families, peers, and supervisors.
Maintain a high level of confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA guidelines at all times and protect confidential information by only providing information on a 'need-to-know' basis.
Attend and participate in meetings and in-services as directed or scheduled. Attend in-service and education programs and attend continuing education required for maintenance of professional certification or licensure.
Understand Infection Control and follow the Company's Infection Control guidelines, such as hand washing principles, understanding of isolation and standard precautions, recognizing signs and symptoms of infection, demonstrating and understanding of the process for identifying and handling infectious waste and cross contamination, maintaining personal hygiene, and complying with OSHA standards in the workplace.
Promote and Protect Resident Rights by assisting Residents to make informed decisions, treating Residents with dignity and respect, protecting Residents' personal belongings, reporting suspected abuse or neglect, avoiding the need for physical restraints in accordance with current professional standards, and supporting independent expression, choice, and decision-making consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
Perform other tasks as required.

Requirements:

Must be a Registered Dietitian, or Register Eligible, or possess a Bachelor of Dietetics degree.
Completed an accredited Diabetic internship program preferred.
One year of experience as a Registered Dietitian preferred.
Knowledge of LARA regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of medical nutrition therapy in a hospital or long-term care facility.
Ability to communicate effectively, analyze problems, and identify practical solutions.
Must be able to relate to older adults.
Ability to organize and perform assignments with minimal supervision.
Must be able to work cooperatively with others in the department and facility.
Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate well and work with families, volunteers, and the public.
Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
Basic computer knowledge is required.

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