Registered Dietitian

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in healthcare is seeking a dedicated Registered Dietitian to enhance patient care through expert nutritional management. This role involves assessing patients' nutritional needs, developing tailored care plans, and providing education to patients and healthcare teams. The successful candidate will have a strong background in dietetics, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to evidence-based practice. Join a dynamic team focused on improving patient outcomes and reducing nutrition-related complications in a supportive environment. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of experience in managing complex nutritional needs.
• Ability to incorporate evidence-based practices in daily responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Collect and interpret patient data for nutritional assessments.
• Develop and implement personalized nutrition care plans.
• Educate patients on nutrition and safety using teach-back methods.

Skills

Nutritional Management

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Organizational Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Time Management

Education

Accredited Postgraduate Dietetic Internship

Master’s Degree

Licensed Health Professional

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Registered Dietitian is responsible for completing all Nutrition Referrals ordered by physicians, nursing staff, or the interdisciplinary team, or as part of program standards. The Dietitian screens and classifies nutritional risk and/or risk for malnutrition based on pre-established criteria. They provide consultative and educational services to patients, physicians, learners, other healthcare providers, and the public. The role aims to reduce nutrition-related complications impacting hospital stay, morbidity, mortality (e.g., falls, swallowing issues, wounds), and the progression of medical conditions (e.g., Diabetes, Obesity, Kidney Disease, Eating Disorders). This position supports clinical outpatient nutrition services.

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Accredited postgraduate Dietetic Internship, Master’s degree, or equivalent
- Licensed Health Professional from College of Dietitians of Ontario
- CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) or CNSC (Certified Nutrition Support Clinician) preferred in some areas
- Membership in specialized practice groups (e.g., Nephrology Dietitians, Canadian Diabetes Association, Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) beneficial
- Membership in Dietitians of Canada and/or the American Dietetic Association optional
- 1 to 3 years of demonstrated experience in nutritional management of patients with complex medical, surgical, or mental health conditions
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills
- Ability to incorporate evidence-based practices and innovative service models into daily responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collect and interpret biological, anthropometric, pharmaceutical data, dietary, medical, and psychosocial history; order labs if medical directive allows.
- Gather data from health records, patients, caregivers, and healthcare team.
- Prescribe or recommend nutritional requirements including protein, carbohydrate, fat, calories, fiber, fluids, vitamins, and minerals.
- Assess prescribed Diet Orders and make appropriate recommendations.
- Determine Nutrition Diagnosis based on International Dietetics and Nutrition Terminology.
- Recommend, coordinate, and implement nutrition care plans such as modified diets, vitamin/mineral supplementation, fluids, enteral/parenteral feeding, blood sugar testing, education, and counseling.
- Deliver nutrition services following established standards and using unique patient identifiers.
- Implement Medical Directive procedures (e.g., insulin initiation and adjustment) when applicable.
- Delegate care plan implementation to Dietetic Assistants or Food Service staff as appropriate.
- Monitor and adjust care plans based on Department/Program Nutrition Standards and caseload volume.
- Document care plans in written or electronic health records according to organizational and College standards.
- Use adult education techniques to develop and facilitate group and individual education programs.
- Provide tailored education and follow-up using adult learning principles.
- Offer culturally appropriate teaching materials suited to patient reading levels and readiness to change.
- Educate patients on safety using teach-back methods.
- Refer patients to community resources for ongoing nutrition care when appropriate.
- Develop a personal continuing education plan based on performance assessments and professional development needs.
- Set goals aligned with the College of Dietitians of Ontario.
- Maintain expertise through conferences, workshops, medical rounds, and journal reviews.