General Summary

Under general supervision, collaborates with members of the healthcare team to screen hospital inpatients for nutrition risk. With support of the registered dietitian, provides optimal nutrition care to patients at low nutrition risk. Uses own knowledge and skills to identify and re-evaluate nutrition risk throughout patients stay, provides basic nutrition education, calculates and documents calorie counts. Modifies the medical nutrition therapy plan of care according to own professional knowledge in collaboration with the registered dietitian.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

• Performs nutrition screening using criteria developed by nutritionists to identify patient nutrition risk level.
• Actively collects and reviews anthropometric data, biochemical parameters, past and current medical and social history and food intake to determine the nutrition risk level.
• Refers high risk patients to nutritionist for complete nutrition assessment.
• Develops nutrition care plan for patients at low risk level. Alerts food service management of food service concerns. Advises appropriate dietitian of meal intake related issues
• Provides timely follow-up monitoring and rescreening of patients identified at low risk according to Department guidelines.
• Identifies need for nutrition supplementation for patients with compromised eating patterns.
• Monitors patients receiving nothing-by-mouth (NPO) according to Department guidelines.
• May calculate nutrient intake for patients on calorie counts, report results to Nutritionist and documents in medical record.
• Reviews nursing assessment of patient and family learning needs (readiness and barriers). Based upon assessment tailors communication/counseling of nutrition care plan and food plan guideline to patient and/or family as feasible.
• Demonstrates knowledge of age-specific nutrition assessment standards. Tailor plan of nutrition care appropriate to the specific needs of the patient population.
• Maintains continuing education credits as required by Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Provides care according to organizational ethics, licensure, and the Standards of Professional Practice for Dietetics Professionals.
• Performs all duties in effective, efficient manner according to departmental guidelines and standards
• Maintains professional attitude towards patients, co-workers, and health care team.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.