Full Job Description
Assesses patients’ nutritional status and develops, implements, and monitors the appropriate therapies to counteract the patient’s compromised nutritional status.
As a patient-focused organization, the University of Utah Health Sciences exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The Health Sciences Center seeks faculty and staff who are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, diversity, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission.
Responsibilities
Assesses patients’ nutritional status and screens for potential risks in a timely manner. Ascertains patients’ diet history, anthropometries, and pertinent lab values based on BEE, oral, anabolic, enteral, parenteral and degree of metabolic stress. Implements appropriate feeding modality, diet, or nutrition support (enteral, parenteral, etc.) and monitors patients’ response to the daily nutrient intake making appropriate recommendations for nutritional intervention when necessary. Educates patients and their families on nutritional needs and/or diets; assesses patients’ understanding of and compliance with prescribed diet principles. Monitors patient satisfaction by conducting daily meal rounds noting patient preferences or special needs and altering menus when necessary. May supervise Nutrition Care staff by performing evaluations, completing employee scheduling, and monitoring the service they provide to staff and patients. Uses the department’s computer system to generate tray tickets, complete nutritional assessments, screenings, and calorie counts, etc. Educates or otherwise assists in the training of the hospital medical, nursing and general staff, health care students, and the community by conducting in-service training sessions. Assists in planning patient menus and/or menu modifications according to approved diet manual. Assists in the development of and participates in departmental and interdisciplinary quality improvement programs; develops and implements interdisciplinary activities within specialty area for the Nutrition Care Clinical Services Department. Acts as an advocate and liaison with Nursing and Medical staffs for providing optimal communication and enhancing patient nutritional care, education and research opportunities. Responsible for compiling and assessing patient charges on assigned units. Participates in departmental staff meetings and communicates patient care issues to management. Responsible for keeping updated on developments in clinical nutrition in assigned/specialty areas and maintaining up-to-date standard of practice in area of specialities. Participates in facilitating automation of Nutrition Care’s clinical services such as screening and assessments.
Work Environment and Level of Frequency that may be required:
Nearly Continuously: Office environment.
Seldom: Infectious disease, oils (there is air or skin exposure to oils or other cutting fluids).
Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required
Nearly Continuously: Hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking, standing, sitting.
Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science or a related field, or equivalency; two years of clinical/practical experience; demonstrated human relation, computer literacy, and effective communication skills; and completion of a hospital provided supervisory training program within the first year of employment required. The incumbent must be a Registered Dietician with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and possess current certification with the State of Utah or obtain certification within one month of employment. ADA Certification in a specific area of specialization may be preferred.
This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated requirements. We protect our patients, coworkers and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.
Preferences Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions Summary
This position covers units in Salt Lake and Davis Counties.
