Dietician - Part Time (24 hours per week)

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Dietician will be working within The CT Behavioral Health Hospital. Dietitians and nutritionists counsel clients on nutrition issues and healthy eating habits. Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. They plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to help people lead healthy lives.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Conducts a nutrition assessment per policy and when warranted by a resident's needs or conditions. Assesses residents' nutritional status at regular intervals thereafter per departmental policy/protocol.
• Ensures that Minimum Data Set (MOS) forms are completed, and documents results and recommendations in the medical record.
• Reviews dietary intake for factors that affect health conditions and nutritional risk.
• Evaluates health and disease condition for nutrition-related consequences.
• Evaluates psychosocial, functional, and behavioral factors related to food access, selection, and preparation; physical activity; and understanding of health condition.
• Evaluates resident's knowledge, readiness to learn, and potential for changing behaviors.
• Documents the nutrition assessment per departmental policy/protocol.
• Formulates and determines a plan of care that is focused on the etiology of the problem. Interventions are based on best current knowledge and evidence from Evidence-Based Nutrition Practice Guidelines.
• As indicated, assesses educational needs, and provides nutrition counseling for patients/residents and/or families based on individual needs, including nutrient requirements, knowledge and abilities, and medical, economic, and social situation.
• As indicated, assesses educational needs, and provides nutrition counseling for patients/residents and/or families based on individual needs, including nutrient requirements, knowledge, and abilities, and medical, economic1 and social situation.
• Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by the patient/resident and/or family. Provides appropriate follow-up in accordance with residents' treatment goals, referring residents for additional services as appropriate.
• As needed, delegates or coordinates nutrition plan of care with other healthcare professionals. Confers with patient or resident, other caregivers or policies, and program standards in developing the intervention(s).
• Documents the intervention per departmental policy with objective and measurable goals for monitoring and time frames for reassessment.
• Implements the nutrition intervention including communicating the plan of nutrition care. Provides appropriate follow-up in accordance with the resident's treatment goals, referring residents for other services as appropriate.
• Collects data and modifies the plan of care as needed.
• Utilizes monitoring and evaluation techniques that consider the varied needs of age-specific populations as well as cultural, religious, and ethnic concerns.
• Conducts regular meal observations to ensure that residents are receiving and consuming food in the appropriate amount, type, consistency, and frequency to meet nutritional requirements.
• Maintains ongoing communication with the resident's referring physician and other healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Evaluates outcomes by comparing current findings with previous status, intervention goals, and/or reference standards. 

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition or related area.
• Registered dietitian and 1 to 2 years of experience as a clinical long-term dietician preferred.