Clinical Dietitian

Dominican Hospital; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, CA is seeking a Clinical Dietitian to provide expert nutrition care and develop individualized plans to improve patient outcomes. You will communicate nutrition data across systems and participate in health team meetings as the resident nutrition expert.

Interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based care are essential, with a focus on culturally appropriate counseling and adherence to professional standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in dietetics from ACEND-accredited program.
• Registered Dietitian (RD) within 90 days.
• Possess/obtain RD credentialing within 90 days (ADA/CDR).

Responsibilities

• Performs nutritional assessment using standard guidelines and identifies nutrition needs.
• Develops and implements individualized care plans for patients.
• Communicates nutrition data across systems and participates in health team meetings.
• Collaborates with Food and Nutrition Services to optimize patient meals and diet orders.
• Participates in peer reviews and staff training on nutrition care.

Skills

Clinical nutrition assessment

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Patient education

Documentation in medical records

Education

Bachelor's degree in Dietetics

ACEND-accredited Dietetics program

Registered Dietitian (RD)

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Clinical Dietitian, you will provide expert nutrition care, developing and implementing individualized plans to improve patient health outcomes.

Every day you will clearly communicate nutritional data across all systems and participate in health team meetings as the resident nutrition expert.

To be successful in this role, you will integrate robust clinical expertise with empathetic, evidence-based care, consistently adhering to professional standards and fostering effective communication with patients and healthcare teams.

• Performs nutritional assessment using age and gender appropriate standards, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds; and utilizing validated assessment tools resulting in nutrition-related diagnosis when indicated. Conducts routine screening to identify patients at nutritional risk. Collaborates within an interdisciplinary environment to contribute to facilitating care and identifying patients at nutrition risk or needing higher levels of care.
• Implements targeted and specific nutrition intervention(s). Provides customized nutrition education to patients and/or families and caregivers. Works within an interdisciplinary environment to contribute toward overall patient care. Closely monitors, evaluates and rescreens patient nutrition status as appropriate. Updates plan of care as necessary. Follow up with patients as needed.
• Develops an intervention plan which includes appropriate feeding route, mode, and nutrition prescription unique to patient's specific needs, in accordance with physicians' orders. Monitors and evaluates patient response to interventions by meeting specific measurable goals documented in the nutrition care plan in a timely and thorough manner in the medical record.
• Collaborates with the Food and Nutrition Services team to enhance patient experience. This includes participating in test trays, menu reviews, periodic auditing of trayline for accuracy of diet orders, validating menu compliance with the facility Diet Manual Handbook and Nutrition Care Manual (NCM), supporting with patient interactive positions (i.e. dietitians, diet clerks, interns, etc.), maintaining communication with patients, staff, and guests and providing excellent customer service.
• Participates in peer reviews and chart audits, and collaborates in Diet Manual Handbook training for all clinical staff (new registered dietitians, nurses, therapists, physicians, etc.), including how to access it in hard and soft copy.

Job Requirements

Required

• Bachelors Degree, completion of accredited dietetics program (ACEND - Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics)
• Registered Dietitian, within 90 Days or
• Registered Dietitian ADA, within 90 Days or
• Registered Dietitian AND, within 90 Days or
• Registered Dietitian CDR, within 90 Days

Where You'll Work

Founded in 1941, Dignity Health - Dominican Hospital is a 188-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Santa Cruz, California. Serving over 80,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including heart care, orthopedics, and a Family Birthing Center. Additionally, Dominican Hospital has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center, and has been awarded the AMA/ASA’s Get the Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to providing the best stroke care.

One Community. One Mission. One California

Pay Range

$54.85 - $63.61 /hour