Clinical Dietitian II

UCLA Health and David Geffen School of Medicine; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health Care System in Chapel Hill seeks a Clinical Dietitian II to coordinate evidence-based medical nutrition therapy within a multidisciplinary team. You will apply the Nutrition Care Process, perform nutrition-focused assessments, and develop care plans aligned with patient goals.

The role requires RD licensure, NC licensure eligibility if applicable, and certification or advanced degree for certain specialties. Onsite work with a focus on quality, education, and mentorship.

Qualifications

• Three years as an RD with clinical specialty experience.
• Licensed RD in NC or eligible within one month of hire.
• Certification in clinical specialty (e.g., CDCES, CNSC) or advanced degree where required.
• Proficiency in the Nutrition Care Process and medical nutrition therapy.

Responsibilities

• Assess nutritional needs using the Nutrition Care Process and patient data.
• Collaborate with the clinical team to implement nutrition care plans.
• Support compliance with Joint Commission and CMS standards.
• Attend rounds, care conferences, and quality improvement activities.
• Develop and monitor nutrition care plans and contribute to discharge planning.
• Precept interns and mentor junior staff.
• Lead/participate in clinical research and quality initiatives.

Skills

Nutrition Care Process

Medical nutrition therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Critical thinking

Communication

Independent work

Counseling and education

Nutrient analysis

Education

RD licensure (CDR)

North Carolina LDN licensure or eligibility

Clinical specialty certification or advanced degree

ACEND-accredited Dietetics program credentials

Tools

Microsoft Office

Dietary software

Job description

Job Description

Description

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Summary: The Clinical Dietitian II works closely with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to coordinate evidence based medical nutrition therapy that is integrated and compatible with the patient focused medical goals. Primary responsibilities include application of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP), through nutrition focused physical exam. Nutrition/malnutrition assessment, nutrition diagnosis, interventions, monitoring and evaluating of the patient's progress. The Clinical Dietitian II uses practice-specific dietetics and as available and evidence based practice protocols/nutrition practice guidelines to help determine nutrition intervention. The Clinical Dietitian II has extensive knowledge in the area of clinical practice as evidenced by years of experience and/or specialty certification(s) noted in the requirements listed below. The Clinical Dietitian II performs business functions, such as management of resources in a cost-effective manner, and participates in compliance and quality performance improvement efforts to ensure that nutrition care is safe and effective. The Clinical Dietitian II is an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, serving as a resource on nutrition management of the clinical practice area(s) is involved in team conferences provides nutrition-related in-services and contributes to the development and revision of hospital policies. The Clinical Dietitian II also may be involved in community-based nutrition programs and maintains professional competency and skills required for professional practice. The Clinical Dietitian II precepts interns and supports, models and trains clinical dietitians in the core behaviors and responsibilities of the department and organization.

Responsibilities:

1. Assesses nutritional needs using standardized practice and critical thinking. Identifies nutrient requirements according to age, disease and individual needs for assigned patients. Demonstrates clinical and age specific competency as evidenced by clinical competency tools, forms, chart audits, tests, observation, etc.
2. Acts as a resource person for the clinical team assigned and serves as a liaison between other medical specialties and ancillary services.
3. Assists in achieving compliance with the Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), or other accrediting agency standards to continuously improve the safety and quality of care to the public and to the organization’s performance improvement.
4. Attends medical rounds, patient care conferences, and continuing education/staff meetings. Participates in quality improvement initiatives and cross training.
5. Develops, implements, and monitors nutrition care plans and participates in the discharge planning process. Provides education using established behavioral change techniques.
6. May lead, direct, and manage the work assigned to others within the department. Documents all aspects of nutrition care in the medical record. Demonstrates compliance with regulatory agency standards as evidenced by timely completion of clinical nutrition workload as evidenced by chart audits and organizational / regulatory agency surveys.
7. Creates/updates evidence based protocols in area of clinical practice and trains others in order to ensure medical nutrition therapy practices are current and meet established guidelines.
8. Identifies needs for professional development and mentors others in area of clincal practice. Participates in the training of clinical nutrition intern by acting as preceptor throughout the year as assigned.
9. Participates in clinical research, on-the-job training, or QI projects as pertains to clinical practice area. Leads efforts to continually understand and measure quality of the clinical area practice in terms of structures, process, content, and outcomes. Designs and tests interventions to change process and systems of specialty practice area with the objective of improving quality outcomes. Serves on cross functional quality teams.

Other Information

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Master’s in related Dietitian field for new graduates becoming licensed after 1/1/2024.
• Completion of a Coordinated Program in Dietetics or Dietetic Internship accredited by ACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics) of no less than 900 hours (1200 hours for graduates of programs beginning 2012)

Licensure/Certification Requirements

• Registered Dietitian (RD) by The Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR)
• Licensed as a Dietitian/Nutritionist (LDN) by the North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition. (Certain positions may allow licensure to be obtained within one (1) month from date of hire).
• If less than five (5) years of experience, certification in area of clinical specialty (e.g., CDCES, CNSC, CNSD, CSR, CSP, CSSD, CSGN, CLE, BCLE, etc.) or advanced degree or approved to practice in specialized roles where certification does not exist is required. (Certain positions may allow specialty certification to be obtained within six (6) months from date of hire or next offered exam date for those who have obtained educational preparation for certification.)
• Some positions may require appropriate credentialing for billing purposes (e.g., NPI, Medicare/Medicaid Provider, BCBSNC Provider) to be obtained within one (1) month from date of hire.
• Some positions may require maintenance of certification (e.g. CDCES) for billing purposes.

Professional Experience Requirements

• Three (3) years as an RD with two (2) of those years' experience in area of clinical specialty or three (3) years nutrition experience in a tertiary care, teaching hospital and certification in specialty area is required. or Five (5) years of experience as an RD Must maintain certification until RD has at least 5 years of experience (or longer if required for certain positions i.e. Nutrition Support Team) or have at least five (5) years of experience as an RD.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements

• Knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process and ability to apply all steps of the process.
• Comprehensive knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy.
• Understands and can implement Motivational Interviewing
• Critical thinking to integrate facts, informed opinion, active listening, and observations.
• Decision making, problem solving, and collaboration.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form to patients, public, hospital and medical staff, and physicians.
• Ability to function independently on assigned patient care units.
• Ability to counsel and educate others.
• General knowledge of nutrient analysis, word processing, and spreadsheet software.

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Faculty Physicians

Organization Unit: FP Family Medicine Campus Health Passthrough

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range: $28.87 - $41.50 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities.