Dietitian

• Overview Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.
• At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed.
• With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members.
• Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning.
• It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.
• Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.
• The Dietitian will be assigned to specific in- and out-patient care areas to provide nutritional services compatible with established standards of practice and in compliance with state and federal regulations, utilizing knowledge of growth and development and an understanding of the range of treatment needed by patients over the life cycle.
• This position assists with the management of diet offices, and supervises nutrition assistants.
• Pediatric, GI, RD and/or outpatient/physician office experience is preferred.
• Candidates need to be a Registered Dietitian.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Dietitian at Hackensack Meridian Health includes: Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.). Assesses patients' nutrition status as per individual facility Nutrition Screening and Assessment policy and ensures that they receive adequate and appropriate nutrition. Reads patient health/medical record and extracts information pertinent to nutritional assessment. Visits and interviews patients and/or significant others to obtain pertinent information for nutrition assessment completion. Follows the nutrition care process to develop, document, implement and evaluate a nutrition care plan, based on the assessment of nutritional needs, for all patients where such need is indicated. Counsels patients and/or family members on evidence based, appropriate nutritional plan, principles of nutrition, food selection and adaptation of plans to meet established life styles. Develops, implements and evaluates educational programs for patient and staff education. Interprets physicians' diet orders as received and initiates the diet plan as prescribed. Once receives RDN Order Writing Privileges, writes specific diet orders for each patient to meet their nutritional needs for food, nutritional supplements, enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplements, modular enhancements, and miscellaneous orders as applicable to job title and as defined in the Network/Enterprise and Facility Specific RDN Order Writing Policies. Passes an annual competency and completes quarterly requirements to be granted and/or to maintain order writing privileges. Plays an active role in the patient's nutritional care and readily communicates with Physician's / Licensed Independent Practitioners (LIP) and the interdisciplinary team. Confers with nutrition assistants regarding accurate modification of patients' menus as needed. Evaluates food distribution for conformance to dietary prescriptions and quality standards. Participates in research projects and PI data collection and reporting. Other duties and/or projects as assigned. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.