PRN Dietitian

General Summary: The Dietitian provides assessment, nutrition care plan development and implementation, and patient education. Maintains effective communication with medical, nursing, and departmental management concerning nutritional care of patients. The Dietitian is actively involved in department activities, transdisciplinary team activities, and LifeCare activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations admitted to LifeCare Hospital.

Patient Population: Has contact with patients in a clinical setting; understands and demonstrates appropriate behavior when interacting with patients in the adult (18-65 years of age) and geriatric (65 and older) populations.

Supervision: Not applicable.

Standard Essential Functions
1. The knowledge and skills necessary to perform the position requirements are demonstrated through the successful completion of competencies established for the position, to include population served and other special needs of patients or customers, served by the department.
2. Adheres to LifeCare policies, procedures, all safety plans, and all standards imposed by regulatory organizations.
3. Regular attendance and timeliness is required.

Job Specific Essential Functions
1. Assesses nutritional status, therapeutic diet(s), enteral or parenteral nutrition, and patient condition; identifies actual and potential problems and communicates changes in patient status, needs or condition to the transdisciplinary team when applicable. Documents the assessment.
2. Develops and implements the nutritional plan of care for patients in response to identified needs with input from the patient and family. Works in collaboration with the transdisciplinary team, patient, and family. Documents the plan and revisions.
3. Re-assesses patients at least bi-weekly and as needed and evaluates the patients response to nutrition care provided by clinical nutrition and other members of the transdisciplinary team. The outcome of care provided and progress toward the goals are documented. Communicates changing patient needs to physician.
4. Provides nutritional counseling for patients and families advising patients and families on nutritional principles, dietary plans and diet modification, food selection and preparation. Provides education / training on nutrition and dietetics to other members of the transdisciplinary team, physicians, and students (if applicable).
5. Participates in committees related to quality and/or process improvement at the departmental and facility level.
6. Plans/organizes work for assigned shift to properly utilize time, resources, and supplies to ensure work assignments are completed timely.

Values
We COLLABORATE: We develop our treatment plans in collaboration with physicians, clinicians, and patient's families.
We ADVOCATE: We advocate on behalf of every patient and family.
We RESPECT: We recognize and value the dignity, rights, and resources of each patient.
We PROVIDE: We provide complex medical care with purpose and compassion.
We SERVE: We serve as a TEAM with integrity at all levels focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Experience: Two (2) years experience as a clinical dietitian is required. Prior experience in a hospital environment is preferred.

Education: Bachelors degree is required; Masters degree is preferred.

Licensure/Certification: Current license as a Registered Dietitian in the state where currently practicing. Current registration through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Current member of the American Dietetic Association preferred. BLS certification is required. All Dietitians must maintain current licensure and/or registration and BLS certification while employed with LifeCare Hospitals.

Physical Requirements:
1. Ability to lift, move, transport and position equipment or supplies/materials up to ten (10) pounds without assistance; or over ten (10) pounds with the aid of mechanical assistance or assistance of personnel.
2. Range of motion and mobility of self by positioning or moving around hospital to include sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
3. Ability to communicate with patients, families, physicians, co-workers, and visitors to be able to exchange accurate information regarding patient condition and health status. Ability to exchange and express information by means of language and communicate information effectively.
4. Ability to hear the nature of sounds. Ability to detect clinical alarms and conversation. Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
5. Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
6. Ability to monitor/assess performance of yourself to make improvements or take corrective action.
7. Ability to see things at close range and match and/or detect differences between colors, including color and brightness.
8. Ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble small objects.
9. Ability to keep your hand steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
10. Ability to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision making. Ability to use scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
11. Ability to identify problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
12. Ability to respond to emergency or crisis in a calm and professional manner as a team member to resolve the crisis or emergency.
13. Ability to work independently and perform routine and detail-oriented tasks. Ability to manage ones own time.
14. Ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
15. Ability to collect and analyze numerical, written data and verbal communication to reach logical conclusions and ability to determine the time, place and sequence of operations or action.
16. Ability to review, assess, record or type data quickly and accurately.
17. Ability to observe and recognize or identify changes in patients health status or condition.
18. Ability to perform mathematical equations.
19. Ability to view and operate required equipment.
20. Ability to determine resources needed in order to provide quality patient care.

Environmental/Working Conditions:
1. Category 2 - Infection exposure due to jobs in which required tasks do not normally involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues, but may require performing unplanned Category 1 tasks. In these jobs the normal work routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues. However, potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment.
2. Ability to work alone or with minimal supervision.
3. Contact with patients, families, co-workers, physicians, and visitors.
4. Ability to work under and handle stress in an appropriate manner.
5. Ability to handle multiple tasks.
6. Ability to work long hours between breaks and meals may be required.
7. Exposure to high, medium, or low noise intensity.
8. Provides on-call services as needed.

Machinery/Tools/Equipment Requirements: Ability to operate telephone, fax machine, copy machine, computer, printer, and calculator.